Two goals from Scott Conway and a 19-save shut-out from netminder Jackson Whistle helped the Belfast Giants maintain their perfect start to the season with a third consecutive win over the Dundee Stars in the Challenge Cup.
In their only game of the weekend after Saturday’s trip to Glasgow was postponed, the British pair led the way as further goals from Kyle Osterberg, J.J. Piccinich and Jordan Kawaguchi helped lead the Giants to their fourth straight victory to start the season – their eighth when you factor in a perfect pre-season campaign, too.
Adam Keefe’s men now have a 4-0-0 record in the Cup and lead Group B by three points from the Stars, who have played a game more, as they continue to march towards the knockouts at a rate of knots, although it will now take a back seat with their Elite League campaign getting under way next weekend.
There will be concern, however, over a late injury to Joe Cassetti, who appeared to skate off clutching his shoulder after a heavy collision along the boards with just 17 seconds remaining in the game which would be a significant blow for Keefe.
However, he will have no qualms about his team’s overall performance which saw them out-shoot their opponents 45-19, score twice on the powerplay and show significant improvements on defence after shipping five goals against the same team a week prior.
They will also be pleased to see their top line click into gear in a big way, Conway grabbing two to make it three goals in two games, while Piccinich had a three-point night to move onto seven points in just four games.
Conway scored arguably the goal of the night for his first, a lovely toe-drag and top corner finish at 15:49 on the powerplay – Domenic Alberga off for hooking – after Osterberg had put the visitors ahead just 5:07 in with his second of the campaign, then he pocketed the Giants’ fourth at 32:01 when he was found in the right circle by Piccinich.
His wing line-mate had scored Belfast’s third of the game shortly before the first intermission, intercepting the puck and going top shelf from the left circle at 17:28 and leading scorer Kawaguchi rounded things off with his fifth of the season with just 1:51 remaining for the Giants’ second powerplay goal, firing in from long range as Xavier Pouliot sat for holding.
At the other end, he didn’t have a great deal to do for most of the night but, when called upon, Whistle was immense, particularly in making a save of the season contender stop on Gravelle shortly before Conway grabbed the fourth, somehow getting across to deny the Stars forward a tap-in on a rebound chance at the crease.
With a 2-for-4 night on the powerplay and a 4-for-4 outing for the penalty kill representing another strong showing for the special teams, too, it was a night with plenty to like for Keefe, not least how his side plugged the defensive holes that have plagued them in recent weeks.
But if there is one negative to take it was that late collision that saw the impressive Cassetti go down hurt late in the game – an injury that the Giants can ill-afford to take given they are already without Grant Mismash and Pierre-Olivier Morin heading into next weekend’s double-header with the Manchester Storm and defending champion Sheffield Steelers to begin their League slate.