The Belfast Giants ended an unwanted record for the first time this season as they slipped to a third straight defeat in all competitions as they blew a two-goal lead in the third period against the Glasgow Clan before falling in overtime.
Coming into the game Adam Keefe’s side hadn’t lost more than twice in a row this season, a record that was under threat after falling to the Nottingham Panthers in the second leg of their Challenge Cup Semi-Final on Wednesday and then suffering a shock reverse to the Manchester Storm on Friday.
And it looked like they were on their way to maintaining that record as a team-leading 27th goal of the season from Scott Conway and a first goal in six games for Bobo Carpenter, both in the second period, had them cruising at the SSE Arena.
But the Clan, backed by an outstanding 49-save performance from netminder Landon Bow, roared back in the third through Liam Finlay and a powerplay goal from Mitchell Heard to force overtime, where Cole Ully was the overtime hero for the visitors 1:28 into the extra period to claim the second point on offer.
While the Giants are still the team in the driving seat for the League title, six points clear of the Sheffield Steelers despite falling to 30-9-4 on the season and with a favourable schedule to end the campaign, this is a damaging weekend for their confidence.
Keefe will know they had a glorious chance to all but put the title race to bed with the Steelers slipping up at home to Coventry on Saturday but instead have opened the door to their rivals by dropping three of four points.
After a first period where Bow was the star man to see out back-to-back penalties on himself for tripping and Chris Martenet for delay of game, Conway opened the scoring at 5:20 of the second period on their third powerplay – Tyson McLellan called for cross-checking – when he ripped in from the slot.
Carpenter doubled the lead at 32:12 when a fortunate bounce off the boards landed right on his stick and he picked the top corner from the left face-off dot and it seemed like that would be enough for the Giants given how little Jackson Whistle – 22 saves – had been tested in the home net.
But Finlay gave the Clan a lifeline 3:03 into the final frame when his one-timer off a McLellan lay-off found the twine and after the Giants failed to punish a high-sticking penalty on Simon Despres, Heard tied it up on the powerplay at 50:06 when he jammed the puck in from a tight angle as Lake sat for tripping.
That forced overtime and Ully settled it when he went on the breakaway and, although it appeared Whistle had his shot covered, the puck sneaked through the netminder and in to condemn Belfast to their third straight loss.