Belfast Giants got the win they needed to edge closer to securing the first overall seed in the Challenge Cup with a 3-1 win in Glasgow on Wednesday night.
Another win would guarantee the Giants end the group stage as the top seeds, giving them the pick of their Semi-Final opponents, although the result of Sheffield vs. Coventry this weekend could decide it in their favour too.
Back at Braehead Arena, in a game of few high points it took 28 minutes to open the scoring – Bobo Carpenter putting the Giants ahead at 27:52 while Mike Pelech sat a Tripping minor. Zak Galambos doubled the visitors’ lead five minutes later to have them two ahead through 40 minutes.
Matt Stief pulled one back for Clan 6:46 into period three, but a well-taken one-time from Scott Conway off Elijiah Barriga’s feed saw the Giants take advantage of a Darien Kielb penalty and move 3-1 ahead. A minor each made the closing stages a little stop-start, but the Giants held on for the win and survived some 55 seconds of Clan playing with the extra skater.
Photo: Al Goold