Elite League: Belfast Giants 5, Fife Flyers 2: Cardiff Devils 4, Glasgow Clan 1
Fife Flyers have a quick chance for revenge when they face Belfast Giants at Kirkcaldy on Saturday (19.15) after being beaten 5-2 in Northern Ireland despite twice holding a slender lead.
The Kirkcaldy club have not won in Belfast since September 2018, but Giants, emptied out of the Challenge Cup in midweek by Coventry Blaze, but who have won three of their last our home games, were stunned when Flyers took the lead to shock the 6,483 fans inside the SSE Arena after seven minutes.
The goal came short-handed with Aleksi Makela in the sin bin for tripping. Lucas Chiodo fired home with Max Humitz and Sean Giles setting up the opportunity.
Just over three minutes later Giants were level when Quinn Preston netted but Flyers were not to be denied and Teemu Pulkkinen received a pass from Humitz to slot Fife’s second after 15 minutes.
As the clock ticked down it looked as if Fife would enjoy a first period advantage but Giants hit back and Preston claimed his second unassisted and short-handed with Ara Nazarian in the penalty box for hooking.
Only 1min 16 sec into the middle session Belfast, sponsored by Stena Line, took the lead for the first time with dangerous Preston claiming his hat-trick unassisted and 13 minutes later it was 4-2 when Nazarian found the net.
Flyers were heavily outshot up to this stage and it was no surprise when No 5 appeared for the home side on the power play with Nazarian scored. Time 56min 51sec.
Glasgow Clan were beaten 4-1 in Cardiff by Devils who won the first session 2-1, blanked the second but won the third 2-0 in a clash where the home side logged 31 penalty minutes and Clan 24.
PICTURE: Fife in action against Guildford earlier this season by John Uwins and courtesy of the Elite League
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