Belfast Giants returned to winning ways with a 3-1 Challenge Cup victory away to Dundee Stars, using a three-goal spell either side of the first interval to take control at Dundee Ice Arena.
Nicolas Guay gave Belfast the lead late in the opening period before Ciaran Long and Christian Berger extended it in the second. Dundee reduced the deficit through Sebastian Bengtsson, but the Giants managed the closing stages, including a late penalty kill, to secure the result.
The win came after Dundee had identified Belfast as the leaders of Challenge Cup Group B before face-off. The Stars had also noted that the visitors had won five of their first six group matches, while Belfast’s club report described the Dundee victory as a return to winning ways.
Dundee’s preview said Belfast’s lone group loss had been a 4-1 defeat by Glasgow Clan at Braehead Arena. It also recorded an 8-1 Belfast win in the sides’ previous meeting, when Piccinich scored a hat-trick and Mike Lee registered four points. Maxim Eliseev had opened that match’s scoring after 17 seconds, according to Dundee.
Guay breakthrough changes a balanced first period
The opening period was closely contested, according to Belfast’s account. Scott Conway and Christian Berger tested Dundee goaltender Carl Stankowski early, while Belfast netminder Jackson Whistle was required at the other end against Joshua Nelson and Gary Haden.
Dundee then received a power play after Berger was penalised for delay of game. Keaton Jameson came closest during the advantage but missed the target, and Belfast killed the penalty.
The deadlock was broken with 2:22 left in the period. Patrick Guay’s attempt was stopped by Stankowski but fell to Nicolas Guay, who finished from a tight angle to put the Giants ahead at 17:38.
That goal mattered because it gave Belfast a platform after a period in which Dundee had created opportunities of their own. It also ensured the Stars had to chase the game rather than take their home ice into the interval level.
Second-period burst puts Belfast in command
Dundee began the second period with intent and Nelson had two breakaway opportunities. Whistle denied him on both occasions, first after he escaped Jaeden Martin and then after a long pass sent him through again.
At the opposite end, Stankowski also stopped David Goodwin on a breakaway before Berger provided the visitors’ third goal.
Belfast capitalised after surviving that pressure. Long made it 2-0 at 28:05, firing into the top of the net after Patrick Guay supplied his second assist of the night. The Giants then added a third at 32:31 when Berger struck high after work from JJ Piccinich.
Berger’s finish was his first goal for Belfast, according to the Giants. The two goals in little more than four minutes transformed the contest, leaving Dundee three behind despite having created significant chances earlier in the period.
Dundee had entered the game seeking a response after taking three points from the previous weekend, when they beat Glasgow Clan before losing in overtime at Fife Flyers. Their pre-match report had stressed the need to generate more shots and create traffic around goal against a Belfast side that had already beaten them twice in the cup.
Dundee pull one back but Giants see it out
The Stars gave themselves a route back at 48:21. Bengtsson scored from a narrow angle after Eliseev provided the assist, cutting the margin to 3-1 with plenty of time remaining.
Dundee continued to press, with Eliseev and Jameson among those involved in attempts to generate further offence. Belfast, however, were able to limit the damage after the goal. Piccinich hit the frame of the net, while Nicolas Guay went close to a second when his shot was deflected narrowly wide.
Belfast survived a late cross-checking penalty against Cole Shudra and saw out the 3-1 victory.
The teams are scheduled to meet again at the O2 Belfast on Sunday 4 October, with Belfast listing a 5pm puck drop.