Painful play off set back for Clan
GLASGOW CLAN ................................. 1 BELFAST GIANTS ................................ 7
Clan suffered a heavy playoff setback as Belfast Giants breezed to a 7-1 win at the Braehead Arena.
For the home team, it was a tough display on Thursday night against a team who are closing in on the Premier Sports Elite League title.
The first goal of the night came with just two minutes on the board as JJ Piccinch broke shorthanded in a fast move, finishing excellently with a wrist shot to put the visitors in the lead.
Five minutes later Piccinch added his second of the night, giving Belfast the perfect start in their quest for the all-important title points.
With just under two minutes remaining, it was three.
Lurking behind the goal, Darcy Murphy found Lewis Hook, in front of the crease, who dispatched high into the net.
Five minutes into the second, the Clan had keeper Shane Starrett to thank as he produced an outstanding save in a one-on-one situation to deny Jordan Boucher who was stopped stick side.
With four minutes remaining in the second, all hope was diminished as the Giants took full advantage of yet another powerplay as Scott Conway fired home from the top of the circle to put the result beyond the hosts.
The Clan finally got a goal of their own early in the third as Mathieu Roy picked up on the rebound to slot home, with the assist coming from Colton Yellow Horn to deny Giants goalie Tyler Beskorowany a shutout.
With 11 minutes remaining, it was 5-1 as the Giants took advantage of the extra man again as Piccinch was found on the end of yet another sharp build up to claim his hat-trick with a neat finish.
Ciaran Long’s one timer fizzed past a static Starrett into the bottom right corner 30 seconds later to kill the game off for the home side.
Then Tyler Soy’s neat hands enabled him to glide past the Clan defence as he danced into the danger zone before finding Slater Doggett to tap home and complete the job for Adam Keefe’s men.