Flyers fall short in bid to fell Giants

Dutiaume’s visitors produce stirring fightback to push Belfast all the way

BELFAST GIANTS 6 FIFE FLYERS 4

Flyers last night pushed Elite League title-chasers Belfast Giants hard before being edged out 6-4 by the Northern Irish side in a thriller.

The home side powered to a 4-0 lead after 34 minutes and looked in total control.

However, the visitors powered back with three unanswered goals of their own in just under four second-period minutes to close the gap to just one.

But Giants netted two goals in the final session to take the points.

Former Edinburgh Capitals star David Rutherford netted Giants’ first two goals after 14 and 18 minutes.

Jonathan Ferland made it 3-0 after 25 minutes and Steve Saviano stretched the lead eight minutes later.

Evan Bloodoff started Fife’s revival after 13 minutes of the second period and Charlie Mosey followed up two minutes after that.

Bloodoff scored again after 37 minutes to raise the visitors’ hopes but Saviano steadied the ship for the hosts with a fifth goal after 44 minutes.

Ricards Birzins pulled another one back for Fife three minutes later but Ferland’s second on the empty net in the final minute after Fife pulled their netminder secured the points.

Flyers return home for tonight’s meeting with Coventry Blaze.

Todd Dutiaume’s side edged it 2-0 on the Midlands club’s last visit to Kirkcaldy and the head coach would love a repeat against his former assistant coach Danny Stewart.

Dutiaume and the success-hungry Fife fans will expect his men to deliver against a side on the slide.

Blaze have lost their last seven games and have the worst recent record in the 12-strong division.

They have 32 points from 41 games and are only a point above newcomers Milton Keynes Lightning.

Stewart, a favourite of Fife fans before he left, believes his men are playing scared and lack confidence.

He added: “I’m trying to stay positive but no coach can wave a magic wand or make an unbelievable speech to get these guys going.

“You have to fight your way through this by playing good hockey and getting results.

“The only guys who can do it for us are the guys in the room. They are playing scared and good things don’t happen.”

Luke Ferrara will not ice but Marco Vallerand may play at Kirkcaldy as Stewart desperately looks for a boost.

Todd Dutiaume: looking for a response from his team in tonight’s home game.

Danny Stewart: the former Flyer returns to Kirkcaldy tonight with his struggling Coventry Blaze side.