Challenge Cup | Glasgow Clan 2 Belfast Giants 3 [PSO]

The Premier Sports sponsored Glasgow Clan were defeated by the Belfast Giants after a tough night in their first home competitive fixture of the season which saw the game go all the way to a penalty shootout.

Ross Armour got the Clan off the mark early as he tipped Juho Rautanen’s shot to bobble it out of the hands of Jake Kupsky for Armour to then sweep home the rebound/

At the other end, Rasmus Tirronen made a spectacular double save as Jake Gaudet rifled a low shot from the slot before Mike Lee followed in with a second attempt, both being kept out by the Finnish netminder.

Matt Spencer then made it two for Glasgow as he hovered at the blue line and waited for the perfect moment to strike, upon which he unleashed a furious slap shot which sailed seamlessly into the top corner before the end of the first period.

Belfast fought back hard in the second period, eventually getting on the boards through a Lee shot tipped by Scott Conway to halve their deficit.

It took just 22 seconds of the third period for the Giants to tie the score as Conway bagged his second with a quick-handed move to scoop up the loose puck after J.J. Piccinich’s drive at net and failed shot attempt.

Neither side could find a go-ahead goal for the remainder of regulation time as Glasgow were forced into overtime for the second time this weekend.

The Clan had to kill off a penalty in overtime after Reece Harsch was penalised for tripping with 30 seconds leg in the third period, but the special teams did fantastic in bringing the hosts back to full strength.

In penalty shots, Glasgow failed to score in the first five rounds, allowing Piccinich’s first round goal to be the decider as Belfast closed out a four-point weekend with a victory at Braehead.