Belfast Giants - Challenge Cup Championspublished at 22:19 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Image source, Press EyeGiants are the Challenge Cup champions
Summary
Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils (Result)
Belfast Giants - Challenge Cup Championspublished at 22:19 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, GIANTS ARE CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPIONSpublished at 21:15 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Result: Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
For the fifth time in the last seven finals the Giants are the Challenge Cup champions.
The celebrations have moved from the ice to the locker room for the Giants.
It was a thoroughly deserved victory. After absorbing all the early pressure from Cardiff, the Giants went on the dominate the game.
Jackson Whistle produced one of the great netminding displays in Giants history.
37 saves, some of them very special, and the first netminder to record a shutout in a Challenge Cup Final.
The three previous times the Giants won the cup it propelled them to the league title.
That’s what they’ll be hoping for again this season.
Nights like this never get old…
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, Result: Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
Giants are halfway homepublished at 20:59 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
Halfway through the final period, one or two alarms but Jackson Whistle and his defence have sorted them out.
There’s a real party atmosphere in the seats
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, Giants coach Adam Keefe watches on in the third period
Final period underwaypublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
Well it’s a straightforward equation for the final period.
Devils have to attack.
Giants in control after second periodpublished at 20:29 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
Twenty minutes stand between the Giants and the Challenge Cup.
Ben Lake rang the post late in the period but Jackson Whistle denied Cole Sanford on the doorstep with a remarkable save.
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
Huge kill for Giantspublished at 20:20 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
Giants penalty killing remains at 100% - another great kill and we are back at even strength
Devils with third man advantagepublished at 20:15 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
It’s been getting a little feisty and Gabe Bast sits for cross checking
Devils back on the powerplay
Didn’t last long - Cody Donaghey called for roughing so we’ll play some four-on-four
And now Devils will have a 4-on-3 advantage with Jeff Baum called for tripping
Watch: Mark Cooper adds a fourth for the Giantspublished at 20:12 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Media caption, Watch: Mark Cooper adds a fourth for the Giants
Watch: Jordan Kawaguchi makes it 3-0 to the Giantspublished at 20:05 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Media caption, Watch: Jordan Kawaguchi makes it 3-0 to the Giants
Giants with another big penalty killpublished at 20:04 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
Blocked shots, sticks in passing lanes and total commitment
Giants make the kill
Watch: JJ Piccinich makes it 2-0 to the Giantspublished at 20:01 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Media caption, Watch JJ Piccinich makes it 2-0 to the Giants
Devils back to the powerplaypublished at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
Devils with a second powerplay opportunity as they look to get back into the game
GOAL! Captain Cooper scores the Giants fourthpublished at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 4-0 Cardiff Devils
Masrk Cooper fires the puck from the right circle high into the Devils net.
The home crowd going nuts.
Devils call their timeout.
17:15 remaining in the second period
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, Mark Cooper celebrates after scoring fourth goal for Giants
GOAL! Kawaguchi adds to Giants leadpublished at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 3-0 Cardiff Devils
It’s a lucky goal for the Giants.
The Devils try to rim the puck around the boards behind their net and it hits a stanchion and bounces to Jordan Kawaguchi in the slot and he fires a one timer past Mac Carruth.
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, Jordan Kawaguchi after scoring the Giants third goal
Puck dropped on second periodpublished at 19:52 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 2-0 Cardiff Devils
Back underway in the second period.
Expect Cardiff to throw everything at the Giants to get back into the game.
Giants up by two after first periodpublished at 19:36 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 2-0 Cardiff Devils
Interesting first period.
Devils with some dominant possession and Grade A scoring chances but Jackson Whistle has stood on his head.
Giants got going after a sluggish start and have snatched a two-goal advantage.
It not that the Giants aren’t playing well, defensively very good but Devils will be wondering how they get a puck past Whistler.
Long way to go….
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, Belfast Giants 2-0 Cardiff Devils
GOAL! Piccinich with the snatch and grab raid on the Devilspublished at 19:33 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 2-0 Cardiff Devils
The Giants were under all sorts of pressure, the Devils taking it to them and then a breakout with David Goodwin and Scott Conway setting up JJ Piccinich for the finish
Image source, Press EyeImage caption, JJ Piccinich scores the Giants second goal
Watch: Ciaran Long makes it 1-0 to the Belfast Giantspublished at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Challenge Cup Final - Belfast Giants 1-0 Cardiff Devils
Media caption, Watch: Ciaran Long makes it 1-0 to the Belfast Giants
Giants kill penaltypublished at 19:19 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 1-0 Cardiff Devils
Jackcon Whistle with an outstanding save as the Devils went tic-tac-toe and the penalty is killed
Devils to the powerplaypublished at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March
Belfast Giants 1-0 Cardiff Devils
Josh Roach sits for two minutes for tripping and the Devils are on the powerplay