Glasgow Clan vs Belfast Giants: 12/10/24

Glasgow Clan

Belfast Giants

GAME RECAP

Two goals from Deven Sideroff helped Glasgow Clan to a fourth straight win as they clinched Challenge Cup points with a 2-1 win over Belfast Giants at Braehead Arena.

Giants got the perfect start when Mark Cooper took a pass from Grant Mismash and was able to squeeze the puck in at Landon Bow’s right-hand post to give the visitors the lead.

Clan looked to get back on level terms quickly when Rylan Schwartz’s effort came off Belfast goalie Tom McCollum and wide.

Facing a five-on-three penalty kill, Bow produced the save of the game when he had to rescue the puck from crossing the line as the Giants looked to make the most of the extra two skaters.

Then things got interesting when Cameron Pound and Félix Paré came to blows at the Clan bench, but both players were ruled on roughing penalties.

McCollum was on top form as he denied Keaton Jameson with a chance late in the first then the follow-up by Tyson McLellan, with Mitchell Heard seeing his effort goes agonisingly wide right at the buzzer.

It was a tight game, with both sides giving very little away. McLellan set up Schwartz, who had a clear route to goal, but was denied by McCollum.

But Clan finally found a way through as Heard’s initial chance was stopped by the Giants netminder, with Sideroff taking it around the net and slotting in the wraparound.

Bow was on top form with a succession of saves at the Glasgow end, but McCollum also put up his fair share of saves, denying one from Mike Pelech, who had a clear sight on the net.

Pelech got on the scoresheet in the third when a powerplay chance saw some pressure build from the home team.

A reverse pass from Heard to Darien Kielb saw the defenceman sent one in on goal from the blue line. Pelech, at the crease, turned the puck into the net to put Glasgow in front.

Belfast contested the goal by way of a video review, but the officials saw no impediment and the goal stood, to the delight of the Purple Army.

Mismash got a good look on the Clan net with five minutes to go, with Bow again equal to the chance, denying the Giants again, who also denied Jeff Baum a little later.

Sideroff finished Belfast off with a late empty net goal to secure two big Challenge Cup points on another good night for Corey Neilson’s side, with both teams set to meet again at the SSE Arena on Sunday.