Belfast Giants vs Glasgow Clan

The Premier Sports sponsored Glasgow Clan showed their teeth in an impressive road win over the Belfast Giants as the hosts’ hopes of title celebrations this weekend were dashed.

The Clan quickly set the tone, and showed the SSE Arena that this would not be an easy weekend for the Giants as they looked to pick up the four points needed to secure the 25/26 EIHL trophy.

Tristin Langan played a clever no look pass to the on rushing Rylan Schwartz through the slot but his snapped wrist shot was blockered wide by Jake Kupsky.

The American netminder was bested not long after though as the Clan delivered on their first powerplay of the night with Jason Fram sending a shot from the blue line through traffic which was blocked before Brady Risk swept home the loose puck.

JJ Piccinich responded for the Giants when he arrived first to a Scott Conway rebound after Sami Aittokallio failed to hold on to the puck at the top of his crease and allowed Belfast’s #12 to push an equaliser over the line.

In the second period, Langan broke out on a quick dash up the left wing and rifled a shot into the logo of Kupsky before sending a rebound past his flailing catcher to put Glasgow back ahead.

Rob Lachowicz then poked possession free at his own blue line and sent two Belfast defenceman crashing to the ice with some quick hands as he burst out on a breakaway and coolly dispatched a five hole finish to make it 3-1.

Langan danced his way through the Giants defensive core on a powerplay in the final frame and poked a great shot in close on net but Kupsky was equal to it with the pad and managed to keep Brett Neumann’s rebound at bay to0.

Chris McKay was denied a shorthanded goal by a great backdoor blocker save to guide his backhand shot over the bar as the Giants failed to gain any momentum in the final stages and saw their title clinching moment kicked at least another 7 days down the line.