What a difference two days can make. Fife Flyers were thrashed 9-0 by Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland on Friday. On Sunday, they responded with a spirited performance against the same side.
And they emerged triumphant with a 4-3 scoreline after a nerve-jangling shootout. It was Anton Karlsson who netted the game-winner after the sides had been locked at 3-3 after regulation time and then an extra session.
The 29-year-old, Swedish-born forward, kept his nerve and moved Fife on to ten points, the same mark as second-bottom, Dundee Stars.
The result is a massive boost to the league’s bottom club and their fans as they were outshot 40-28, but it was a real dent to fourth-placed Belfast as they bid to move up the standings and to challenge for top spot in the Elite League.
Earlier, Christian Purboo started in goal for Fife and it took the home side 12min 46sec to break the deadlock, newcomer, David Booth, one of the former National Hockey League (NHL) forwards in the squad, netting with another ex-NHL player, Milan Lucic and Jonas Emmerdahl, assisting.
The scoreline stayed that way until 32min 57sec when Nicolas Guay was set up by Mike Lee to level on the power play, Anton Karlsson sitting in the sin bin for boarding.
Seconds later, Booth was sent to the penalty box for tripping and Belfast Giants took full advantage, Jordan Kawaguchi scoring unassisted.
It got worse for the home side when Ciaran Long scored after being set up by Ben Lake for 3-1.
Back came Fife and Josh Winquist was fed by Karlsson for Fife’s second to cut the deficit and home fans were on their feet when Karlsson found the net to 3-3 after a pass from Johan Porsberger. The goal came after 47min 14sec and was on the power play with Alexis Gravel, Belfast’s netminder, called for delaying the game by displacing the goal net.
The leveller came with Fife being outshot, but coach Jamie Russell’s men dug deep against one of the heavyweights in the ten-strong division and held out to be were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation time.
The game went to a sudden death extra session and penalty shots.
