After seven hours sat in Belfast City Airport waiting just to see if they would take off for Birmingham, a shortened warm-up and rolling three forward lines to the Nottingham Panthers’ four, it says a lot about how the Belfast Giants dug deep that head coach Adam Keefe was left disappointed they took just one point from the Motorpoint Arena.
Scott Conway and Mark Cooper both scored in the third period as the significantly short-benched Giants battled through fatigue to take the rested and fully-stacked Panthers to overtime following a 2-2 tie, with Matt Alfaro’s powerplay winner in the extra period earning the home side the extra point.
Jaakko Niskala had given the Panthers the lead in the first period with Reid Stefanson restoring that advantage after Conway had tied it up early in the third, only for Cooper to send it to overtime.
But a major penalty against Pierre-Olivier Morin would make it an almost impossible task in the extra period for the Giants and Alfaro settled it with a fine shot from the left circle.
While any loss is costly in the Elite League, in the grand scheme of things the Giants have actually gained ground this weekend having picked up three points after their win over Guildford on Friday, with the Cardiff Devils and Sheffield Steelers both slipping up at home.
Cardiff’s loss to Glasgow and Sheffield’s defeat at the hands of Dundee means Keefe’s side are six points back of the Devils having played two games fewer, while they trail Sheffield by two having played one game more.
But what Keefe learned about his team will likely stand him in better stead than the point they gained; the Giants dipping into the well as deep as they have all season to pick up what may yet be a valuable point on the road, and he was delighted by his side’s application, even if there was a tinge of frustration they weren’t rewarded with more.
“It was a long (day), for sure. I asked the guys to leave that on the plane and just prepare for a hockey game. I thought the guys did that,” praised the head coach.
“Periods one and two, we didn’t create enough to lead or tie that game. Loved our efforts in the third. We had some real fightbacks, some real positives there.
“Three lines versus four lines, a long travel day, I thought our guys did a great job in the third period to fight back into it. I thought they deserved more from it, if I’m honest with you.”