Ice Hockey – Julius’ debut joy for Capitals

Challenge Cup, Group B: Fife Flyers 5, Dundee Stars 1; Belfast Giants 4, Edinburgh Capitals 6. Elite League: Cardiff Devils 5, Braehead Clan 0.

Edinburgh Capitals shocked Belfast Giants 6-4 with two third-period goals in the Challenge Cup, Group B, in Northern Ireland.

And the game-winner came from debutant defenceman Julius Nyqvist after 46 minutes.

The see-saw battle saw the teams locked at 2-2 after the first session and 4-4 after the middle period.

Nyqvist was set up by Sergei Banashkov and Igor Valeyev for Edinburgh’s fifth and Banashkov made sure with 36 seconds remaining with an empty net strike after Giants withdrew their netminder to have six skaters.

Elsewhere, Chase Schaber claimed a double as Fife Flyers skated to a comfortable 5-1 victory over arch rivals Dundee Stars in front of nearly 1,800 fans at Kirkcaldy.

Three first-period goals put the home side in control but Stars pulled one back with 24 minutes remaining.

Four minutes later Schaber’s second hit the net and it was curtains for the visitors.

Fife were on the scoresheet after three minutes when an unassisted goal from Charlie Mosey arrived.

Schaber’s opener came short-handed 12 minutes later with Russ Moyer providing the final pass.

Ian Young then claimed a power play strike after 19 minutes with Moyer again involved and Fife went into the locker-room 3-0 ahead.

Jordan Cownie unassisted opened Dundee’s account after 35 minutes but Schaber scored with 26 seconds of the second period remaining to dim hopes of a comeback, Carlo Finucci and Moyer providing the assists.

And Liam Heelis was set-up by Peter LeBlanc after 49 minutes to end the scoring.

A Mark Richardson double helped Cardiff Devils shutout Braehead Clan 5-0 in the Principality.