THE Belfast Giants completed a four point home weekend with a 4-2 win over the Braehead Clan at the SSE Arena thanks to another third period show.
Having produced five goals in the third period against Edinburgh on Friday night, this time Adam Keefe’s men hit three to fight back from 2-1 down at the second intermission to take the two points.
Blair Riley, Spiro Goulakos, Steve Saviano and Matt Towe all netted for the hosts, who keep pace with the Cardiff Devils at the top of the Elite League standings with victory.
Having given Chris Truehl his home debut on Friday against Edinburgh, the Giants started Jackson Whistle in nets, while Braehead countered with everyday backstop Ryan Nie between the pipes.
It was Nie who was the busier of the two keepers in the opening stages as Clan defenceman Cameron Burt took an early tripping penalty, and his goalie had to be wise to alert to deny Colin Shields and Darcy Murphy on the powerplay.
But the best chance fell to Braehead short handed as Brendan Brooks reacted fasted to a puck around the boards and skated in one-on-one with Whistle, only for the Belfast man to blank him as he shot on goal.
Brendan Connolly and Jonathan Ferland both had chances to send the Giants in ahead at the first intermission, the former firing straight at Nie on a two-on-one and the latter hitting the bar from the slot, but it was scoreless at the break.
Having missed three powerplay opportunities in the first period, the Giants paid in the second. With Blair Riley sitting two for hooking, Burt launched a slapshot from the high slot that forward Jacob Doty tipped in at the crease at 26:16.
Just two minutes later and Belfast were level, David Rutherford doing all the hard work to turn a Clan d-man and feed Riley at the backdoor, with the captain making amends by tapping into the empty cage at 28:36.
Both teams had their chances, GB international Brooks easily the dangerman for Braehead and Sylvestre tearing Nie at the other end, but it would be the visitors who led at the second intermission.
Whistle failed to handle a Landon Oslanski slapshot, deflecting it with his pads straight to Tyler Shattock at the doorstep, who shifted around the netminder to finish at 36:29.
As a result, Belfast burst out at the start of the third and at 46:34 they got their reward with a second equaliser as Spiro Goulakos took it through the zones and, with seemingly nothing on, roofed a fantastic slapshot past Nie.
The Giants then had a glorious chance to take the lead, David Rutherford went in on goal but he was checked from behind in the act of shooting by former Belfast favourite Craig Peacock, however the Canadian couldn’t force his penalty shot around the resolute Nie.
With the game looking like it might be heading for overtime, Belfast struck the winner. With Oslanski in the box for slashing, the Giants flooded the offensive zone and Riley centred the puck for Steve Saviano to tip in at the doorstep at 56:39.
And the gloss was added by Matt Towe at 59:47, the Clan having pulled Nie for an extra attacker leaving an empty cage for the English forward to slide the puck into to ensure the victory.
Man of the Match: Spiro Goulakos (Belfast Giants)
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