Giants beat Blaze in back-to-back home games

The Giants took back-to-back wins over the Blaze on Friday and Saturday. Credit: Presseye

  • Belfast Giants 7 - 2 Coventry Blaze

The Belfast Giants beat the Coventry Blaze two nights running, ahead of their third game in as many days against Guildford Flames on Sunday.

On Friday night, the Giants seemed to struggle for two periods, but kicked it up a gear in the third with four unanswered goals to ultimately overwhelm the visitors and take the 7-4 win.

Sébastien Sylvestre enjoyed scoring during Friday's win. Credit: Presseye

They followed that up with another seven goals on Saturday, but this time held the Blaze to just two.

With Chris Truehl taking his turn in nets for the Giants, after Jackson Whistle stepped up the night before, the sides battled out a scoreless opening period.

Chris Truehl in nets for the Giants on Saturday. Credit: Presseye

The second period saw the Giants open their goal account in style though, with two quick goals seconds apart – first from Darcy Murphy and then with Brandon Benedict doubling their lead.

The Blaze pulled one back through Adam Courchaine, midway through the period.

But a shorthanded and unassisted second goal from Murphy made it 3-1 to the Giants less than three minutes before the final break.

Darcy Murphy bagged a hat-trick for the Giants. Credit: Presseye

But the Blaze responded with a powerplay goal from Alex Miner-Barron, while Ryan Martinelli sat two minutes for interference.

With just 40 seconds to go in that middle period, Murphy got his hat-trick and re-established that two-goal cushion for the home side going into the third period.

And the Giants only continued to add to their tally, with Colin Shields chipping in their fifth goal of the night before Spiro Goulakos fired a slapshot past Kevin Nastiuk in the Blaze net for their sixth.

The Giants celebrate another goal against the Blaze. Credit: Presseye

And, having dinged a screamer of a shot off the post earlier in the game, Jim Vandermeer finally got his goal with just about a minute to go with another cannon – sealing the 7-2 victory.

With four points already in the bag this weekend, the Belfast Giants now travel to face the Guildford Flames on Sunday at 6pm.