Devils Vs Giants Double header - November 2013

This weekend the Devils take on the Belfast Giants in the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Saturday and Sunday, with 3 defeats to the Giants already this season the Devils will no doubt be keen to get a win away. This will be a tall order if last season’s form is anything to go by with the Giants winning 7 of the teams 8 match ups.

If you’ve not seen the Giants as yet this season you can get a good idea of the squad by checking out the rather excellent Chasing the Dragons blog here http://chasingthedragons.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/ten-teams-ten-days-day-7-belfast-giants/

Last weekend saw the Giants in Action twice first up on Friday at home to the Panthers where it was the Giants blue line corps that did the damage with three of the four home goals coming defencemen but that will be of little concern as Paul Adey’s men go two points clear of Dundee at the top of the table.

An early penalty to both teams but it was while Panthers were on the powerplay that David Clarke fired them ahead at 4.07. Giants were having much more of the first period shots however and it was little surprise when they levelled at 13.42 with a strike by Cody Brookwell.

Into period two and only one further goal, with Lynn Loyns edging the visitors ahead again at 30.38, setting up a fierce third session in which for both teams defeat was not an option.

Calvin Elfring of Giants was first to light the lamp and see his side level once more with a shot at 48.05 and with the Odyssey Arena is party mood it was soon 3-2 Giants thanks to a strike by Robby Sandrock at 51.13 on a shorthanded play. That’s the way it remained until the final minute when, with goaltender Craig Kowalski pulled, Jeffrey Szwez found the empty Panthers net with 55 seconds remaining.

Although Panthers managed a powerplay goal from Matt Ryan with 16 seconds of regulation remaining there was not enough time for the visitors and the final buzzer signaled two points staying in Northern Ireland.

Final Score Belfast Giants 4 – 3  Nottingham Panthers

You can get video highlights of the Giants Panther taming exploits here ( if you want to watch the Panthers getting beat its good otherwise a touch depressing) http://www.belfastgiants.com/archives/highlights-as-giants-tame-panthers-4-3/

Giants then went on to complete a weekend double as they outlasted a below strength Clan in their Challenge Cup game Saturday.

It was the visitors who were quicker out of the blocks and they hit the front after 5.31 with a counter by Calvin Elfring. Clan were given the opportunity to hit back when they had almost two minutes of a 5 on 3 powerplay opportunity and this paid dividends at 12.13 as skipper Scott Aarssen fired in.

In period two Giants regained their lead when Evan Cheverie squeezed one in on the powerplay at 28.53 and the visitors went 3-1 ahead at 35.00 with a goal by Robby Sandrock. Clan’s powerplay unit then hauled them back into the contest at 37.26 with Joel Champagne on the spot to make it a 1-goal game after two periods.

The early minutes of the third period proved pivotal in the outcome of the game as firstly Clan forward Neil Trimm failed with a penalty shot at 42.32 and then at the other end Craig Peacock fired in Giants’ fourth at 44.34. Kevin Saurette added a fifth for the visitors shorthanded at 48.22 to effectively kill off the home challenge but there was still time for the game to get feisty and Giants lost Jeffrey Szwez to a 2+2+game for leaving the bench at 50.33, while on the final buzzer Tristan Harper of Clan and David Phillips of Giants were assessed fighting calls.

Final Score Braehead Clan 2 – 5  Belfast Giants

The one point of real intrest in the Clan game for us is that  Belfast  forward Jeffrey ( Full name as he’s been naughty) Szwez has been handed a one-match ban for unsportsmanlike conduct - under IIHF rule 550(f)2 - in his side's match at Braehead Clan on Saturday 26th October 2013.

Szwez was initially awarded a 2+2+game misconduct for leaving the players' bench in the third period (50:33).

Head of discipline, Moray Hanson, said: "Players who leave the bench during an altercation will be awarded a minimum one-match ban."

Due to this Szwez will miss Belfast's match with Cardiff Devils on Saturday which leaves Belfast down two of the forwards who so far this season have done the most damage against the Devils as Adam Keefe will also miss Saturdays game after his “totally not to the head” hit on Andrew Conboy

So far this season the ones to watch against the Devils for the Giants have been

Jeff Szwez on 3 Goals

And a gaggle of others on two goals a piece Kevin Saurette / Adam Keefe / Calvin Elfring / Robby Sandrock who have all scored twice.

The Devils didn’t appear to pick up any injuries in their shoot-out victory over Hull so will be at something akin to “full strength” going into the weekend.

We will be trying to run the “ridiculously childish and disgustingly biased” Match Night Live service for these game, expect name calling, slurs and one eyed bias in epic proportions, at the usual location of http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/mnl normally the coverage on these trips is a little “sketchy” as our texters miss goals and struggle to focus on the pucks and or see the score board.

If you’re making the trip up to Belfast and suspect you’ll be sober enough to text (unless it’s an Ex or something) and you'd like to help out by texting updates (we’d be happy to hear from you) or if you’d like to chip in with a comment or prediction on the night please contact us atmatchnightlive@gmail.com.

Also the Giants web cast is available and much improved with commentary that won’t make you want to poke your ear drums out from Aaron Murphy here https://giantslive.tv/users/sign_in