08 Oct 2023, 18:00 | Regular season | Ice Arena Wales |
Cardiff Devils | 2-4 | Belfast Giants |
Periods: Shots: | 0-1 (19-7) | 2-2 (11-5) | 0-1 (13-6) | Total: 43-18 |
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Referees: Pering/Rose  |  Spectators: 3100 |
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Goals and assists
Belfast Giants continued their unbeaten start to the 2023/24 season
with a two-goal win over Cardiff Devils in an enthralling game at the
Vindico Arena.
Sean Norris put the visitors ahead just 2:48 into
the game off a loose puck that he was the quickest to react to. That was
the only goal of an exciting opening period where both teams relied on
excellent goaltending to keep the score at a one-goal game.
The
Devils had been pushing for an equaliser at the end of the first period,
and 41 seconds into the second they did make their man advantage count
through Marcus Crawford from the point. The home side were unable to
stay level for long, however, undone by an excellent pass from Greg
Printz to find Daniel Tedesco for a one-time finish on the powerplay at
26:21. Five and a half minutes later, the Devils were unable to clear
their zone on a couple of attempts and were punished when the puck broke
to Charlie Curti to fire past Bowns and put the visitors 3-1 up. Riley
Brandt missed a golden chance to tie the game when through on Tyler
Beskorowany, but he stayed at the net long enough to fire home a rebound
at 34:09 after a scramble in front of the Giants' net.
Down by
one going into the final period, the home side pushed for the equaliser
and were denied by a couple of excellent Beskorowany stops. A poor
Printz hit saw him ejected for Boarding with 6:40 to go, with the Devils
eventually having a three-minute man-advantage after Josh Batch's minor
for the afters had expired. There was no breakthrough for the Devils,
and with two minutes left to play Bowns was pulled for the extra skater.
Off a neutral zone faceoff, Quinn Preston shot straight into the empty
net to wrap up the game for the Giants with 18 seconds remaining.