GAME REPORT: Clan equal win streak record with win over Giants
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Glasgow Clan 3-1 Belfast Giants
Clan continued their impressive winning steak with a hard thought victory at home to the Belfast Giants.
Bobby Farnham gave his side the lead in the second period, however, three goals in the third period from Nolan LaPorte, Matt Haywood and Scott Tanski ensured the two points were staying in Glasgow.
The Giants enjoyed the majority of the possession and chances in the first period. Much like Saturday night, Patrick Killeen was busy and on hand on several occasions to keep the deadlock intact.
The Giants were clearly trying to get bodies in front of the net to make Killeen’s life difficult and he had to be alert on a couple of tipped chances to stop the puck finding the goal.
The visitor’s best chance fell the way of Lewis Hook who was lurking at the back post when the puck found its way to him. It looked for all the world that Hook was about to open the scoring but a fantastic leg save from Killeen kept the game level.
However, the Clan were not without chances of their own. Scott Pitt was played into a good position by Mathieu Roy but Pitt couldn’t get his shot on target.
Shane Owen had a few saves to rival Killeen up the other end of the ice. He pulled off a great double save to deny Mathieu Roy and then Rasmuss Bjerrum in quick succession.
Clan started the second period brightly and Jordan Heywood came close twice to getting the opening goal. Heywood’s effort came after a lovely move where he glided into the Giant’s zone and showed off some fancy stick work to fashion a chance for himself that Owen had to push away.
The Giants, however, were able to make their pressure count and take the lead at 24:34. Farnham was played in, right on goal, he took his time and picked his shot to finally get the puck past Killeen.
The Giants then passed up on a huge chance to double their lead when Travis Ehrhardt was called for holding and a penalty shot was awarded. The resulting penalty shot was saved by Killeen and the Clan fans blew a massive sigh of relief.
A couple of penalties for Pitt put the Clan under immense pressure as the Giants came forward looking for their second goal. However, an interference penalty handed to Matt Pelech gave the Clan defence some time to rest.
On the power play, Pitt passed up on two guilt-edged chances to level the scoring meaning the Clan would trail going into the third period.
The Clan saved their best hockey for the final period and would score three goals to turn the game on its head.
The Clan wasted little time to get the game back on level terms when LaPorte scored on 42:39. Owen managed to make contact with the puck but not enough and it found its way into the back of the net.
The goal visibly gave the team the boost they were needing as the Clan went from strength to strength in the period. There were still plenty of moments for the Clan defence to be on edge and a couple of penalties to kill off.
However, When Haywood fired the Clan in front at 51:31 it was no more than they deserved. A lovely cross-ice pass by Craig Peacock picked out Haywood and the finish from the captain was superb.
As the game ticked down to the last five minutes, it was the Clan that looked most likely to get the first goal, Roy coming closest with a wraparound.
The Giants were still pushing however and pulled Owen, this allowed Tanski to get the empty netter and secure a 3-1 win for the Clan.
A record equalling eighth win in a row for Coach Fitzgerald’s men, The Clan remain top of the league and just can’t stop winning.
Report by David Marshall
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View the goals HERE
