Giants reap the rewards of Jordan’s quick start
HE’S only been in Belfast for two weeks and already Jordan Smotherman has a final to look forward to as a Giant.
After their 7-5 aggregate semi-final win over Glasgow Clan — whom they also play in a league encounter at the SSE Arena tonight (face-off 7pm) — the Giants are heading back to Cardiff to defend their Challenge Cup title against the Guildford Flames on March 10.
It’s why he left the German league (DEL) for the Giants, the chance to come in and play a major role in a championship chasing side too good to turn down.
And it was Smotherman’s two first period goals — a powerplay snipe and a rebound off a shot from Colin Shields — that you could say made the difference in the tie, which is also ironic given he wasn’t even a Giants player when the first leg took place in Glasgow.
“It was interesting!” laughed the 32-year-old of coming into the semi-final a game late. “The guys kept it close enough from the first leg to make the game special to come into.
“It was different because I’ve never done the aggregate system before but that just made it exciting. It’s a great feeling, especially to come in late in the process and help any way I could.”
No-one can doubt that Smotherman, brought in from Iserlohn Roosters to fill the gap left by the retirement of Hunter Bishop, has certainly helped the Giants’ effort so far.
The Oregon native has contributed four goals and three assists, good for seven points, and already sits on a +2 rating through his first five games, and looks to have adapted to life in the Elite League as well as head coach Adam Keefe would have wanted when he brought him in.
Having slotted onto a line with Jonathan Ferland and Chris Higgins to ease him into the line-up, Smotherman shifted onto what is likely to be his permanent line going forward with Dustin Johner and Colin Shields on Thursday night, which immediately saw results in the two goals.
“We figured he’d be a quality goal scorer based on his history, but the thing we’re most impressed by is his want to be here and his want to have success,” said Keefe.
“He’s been a great addition, he’s fitted right in and there’s been no growing pains with him. He’s just slotted right into the line-up and he’s a key piece to add in at this time, and he’s repaid us with some key goals.”
And what of his impressive goalscoring touch that has seen him net against the Nottingham Panthers, Guildford Flames and the Clan (twice) already?
“I’ve had some help and the puck seems to keep finding me, so hopefully it keeps finding me!” the former Atlanta Thrashers winger grins sheepishly.
“I seem to be in the right place at the right time and then I’m getting just a little bit of luck, and I’ve enjoyed playing with the guys I’ve been on the ice with.
“I enjoyed playing with Ferly in the first four games and then Johner and Shedsy — they have a lot of experience and they’re a lot of fun to skate with.”
With Glasgow (27-14-4) seeking revenge for their Cup elimination, the Giants (33-10-2) will have to be on their guard as they aim to make it three wins over the same opposition in four days as they prepare for a league double-header with the third-placed Clan.
With league leaders the Cardiff Devils likely to double up on the Milton Keynes Lightning this weekend, the pressure is on second-placed Belfast — who trail them by one point having played a game more — to do the same to the surging Scots, who are 10-3 in their last 13 games.
The two sides meet tonight in Belfast before having a rematch at the Braehead Arena tomorrow afternoon (4pm), where the Giants have lost twice this season.
“They’re going to be huge games, the league is so tight so every game counts and they’ll have something to prove coming back from a tough loss,” said Smotherman.
“They’ll come out hard so we’ll have to be ready.”