Giants blaze to home win over Coventry

The Giants took a win over the Blaze at the SSE Arena on Saturday night, but it wasn't enough to keep their league title hopes alive. Credit: Presseye

  • Belfast Giants 5 – 2 Coventry Blaze

By Victoria Steveley

The Belfast Giants took a 5-2 win over the Coventry Blaze in their final home game of the regular season, which will end on the road in Cardiff next weekend - where the Devils have already been confirmed as this year's Elite League champions.

In the opening period of Saturday's game, the Giants thought they may have taken the lead just under 10 minutes in when Colin Shields put the puck in the Coventry net – but after the whistle had already blown.

Two minutes later, the hosts did get that opening goal though.

Chris Higgins scored past Blaze netminder Brian Stewart, from assists by Blair Riley and Michael Forney to make it 1-0 to the Giants.

Chris Higgins scored the opening goal for the Giants against the Blaze. Credit: Presseye

It only took Coventry two minutes to restore parity with their opening goal from Shawn Boutin and the sides remain locked at 1-1 heading into the first break.

In the second period, the Giants came out with what could have been a big shot from Blair Riley second after the restart – but his stick ended up breaking on impact and that was that.

The home side then went on the powerplay when the Blaze’s Ben Davies sat for hooking.

And Colin Shields fired home almost straight away, from assists by Steve Saviano and David Rutherford, to make it 2-1 to the Giants.

Giants legend Colin Shields added another two goals to his tally. Credit: Presseye

There was a third goal to come from Belfast, again from Shields, when he tipped the puck in amid a goal-mouth scramble.

With the Giants 3-1 up at the start of the final period, the Blaze fought to get back in the game.

They grabbed their second goal of the game with just under 10 minutes left in the game, through Josh Godfrey, to trail the Giants by just one goal 3-2.

Less than two minutes later, Rutherford struck to give the Giants their fourth goal of the game.

David Rutherford scored the Giants fourth goal of the game. Credit: Presseye

And a big strike from Forney in the final two minutes, while Coventry pulled Stewart from nets for the extra skater, found the empty net – despite the Blaze’s defensive efforts to make it 5-2.

That sealed the win for the Giants and the two points help keep them clear of third-placed Sheffield.

However, the Steelers defeat on Saturday against the Devils both helped the Belfast side hold tight to second place and killed their chances of catching Cardiff.

The Belfast Giants are next in action in their final league games of the regular season away to the Cardiff Devils next Saturday and Sunday.

They then return to the SSE Arena for the final time this season, for the home leg of their Playoffs quarter-final game, on Saturday 1 April.