Huge win for Belfast extends their lead in the EIHL

The Belfast Giants came into the game with a full roster while their opponents The Cardiff Devils came into the game with a shortbench, Defensemen Mark Richardson and Rupert Quiney sat out with injury with Joonas Liimatainen back in Finland and unlikely to return to the team. Also out was forward Chris Blight.

Belfast put on a fantastic offensive display while the Devils efforts weren't rewarded, partly due to a huge game from the Giants goal Stephen Murphy

The game began with a lot of Giant control, Belfast kept setting up in the zone but the Devils were doing a great job of stopping goalie Phil Cook from getting too busy.

Cardiff were able to get some shots off despite being held in their own zone for most of the start, creating a few chances on the counter attack but Stephen Murphy was able to stop the few shots he faced.

The first real chance came midway through the period, Giants forward Chris Higgins picked up the puck in the corner and was able to walk into the slot, but shot right into the pad of Phil Cook keeping it scoreless.

It didn't take long for the Giants to add another chance, Jeffery Swez fed the puck to Dustin Whiteccotton who was crashing hard to the net, but he couldn't quite handle the puck and Cook covered the puck up again.

With all the pressure it was only a matter of time until the Giants got the lead. Jeffery Swzez came trough the middle, deking around two Devils before finding the back of the net on a beautifully worked goal to put Belfast up 1 - 0 midway through the first period.

Unlike previous meetings, the entire first period nearly went by without a penalty, Kevin Phillips sat in the box for two minutes after a hooking call giving the Devils a powerplay.

The Devils won the offensive faceoff and moved the puck well around the boards, It took just 19 seconds for Mac Faulkner to fire a wrist shot past Stephen Murphy to tie the game at 1 - 1.

The Giants survived a scare at the end of the period and at the end of 20 minutes, the teams went into the first break tied at 1, with the Devils leading 12 - 10 in shots.


Coming out for the second, Belfast continued to press, getting two good chances on the first shift but unable to take the lead.

Another good counter attack by the Devils, a stretch pass to Tomas Kurka who spilled it but Mac Faulkner was able to pick up the loose puck, find Jake Morrisette who's shot bounced off the pad of Stephen Murphy then Morrisette nearly capitalised as he threw the puck at Murphy to try and bounce it off the GB goalie and in but it rolled just the wrong side of the post.

Belfast took the lead again, defenseman Robby Sandrock with a trademark rocket from the point after an offensive faceoff, beating Phil Cook to give the Giants a 2 - 1 lead with over half the period to play.

After falling behind again Cardiff pressed hard and would've tied it at 2 if it wasn't for Stephen Murphy robbing Tomas Kurka who should've shot rather than tried to dance around the goalie.

It took longer than normal but the physicality began to start by the Devils, Chris Higgins dodged the check coming from Max Birbraer but was caught with his head down and flattened by Brad Plumton which sparked a spell of intense Devils pressure.

Stephen Murphy kept his team ahead, pulling off some incredible saves, then when the Giants were able to clear the zone, Dustin Whitecotton led a 3 on 1 and picked out Jeffery Swzez who fired home his second of the game to give Belfast a 3 - 1 lead

A bad clearance attempt by the Devils saw the puck fall easily to the tape of Colin Sheilds who took a quick shot which found the net and made it 4 - 1 with less than 5 minutes to go in the second period.

Robby Sandrock fired another shot from the top of the circle and Daryl Lloyd was right on the doorstep to tap in the rebound, giving the Giants a 5 - 1 lead after 40 minutes

Early in the third, Swzez completed his hat-trick after a great passing display by the Giants to put the Giants up 6 - 1, and that spelled the end of Phil Cook as Joe Myers replaced him in the Devils net.

After both teams captains were sent to the box for two separate calls, Tomas Kurka cut into the zone and eased into the slot, firing a shot which took a deflection before trickling over the line, making it 6 - 2.

After a couple of strange bounces, one off the mask of Joe Myers, Chris Higgins found the net to give Belfast a 7 - 2 lead, matching their season best against the Devils from their first game against the South Wales side back in September.

With the game already won, Andrew Dickson got a rare appearance between the Pipes for Belfast as he replaced Stephen Murphy.

More injury trouble for the Devils, a clearance by Brad Plumton caught Mark Smith in the back of the head, lucky hitting his helmet but he was well enough to skate to the bench on his own, but was able to return to the ice after a short rest.

A slow end to the game saw time run out on a Belfast Giants 7 - 2 win against the Cardiff Devils.

The scoreline didn't reflect the play of the shortbenched Devils who ran into an impressive Stephen Murphy and a Giants side that just took advantage of their opportunities, and impressed in the win ahead of a repeat fixture tomorrow night.

Devils Man of the Match - # 11 Mac Faulkner (1 goal)

Giants Man of the Match - # 12 Jeffery Swzez (3 goals, 1 assist)

Elsewhere in the EIHL

The Fife Flyers ended a six game losing streak with a 4 - 3 shootout win against the Dundee Stars who now trail the Giants by 13 points in the standings after picking up just one point.

Sheffield Steelers tied the Stars on ponits with 39 after a come-from-behind victory against the Coventry Blaze saw Rob Dowd score in overtime for a 4 - 3 win.

A dominant Nottingham Panthers squad saw new signing Greg Jacina make his EIHL debut, netting twice and assisting two others as the Panthers defeated the Edinburgh Capitals 5 - 2, with Caps goalie Tomas Hiadlovsky making 47 saves on the night.

The final match, and the second shootout of the night saw the Hull Stingrays take a 4 - 3 win over the Braehead Clan, the only road team to get a win on Saturday night.

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