GLASGOW, UK -The Clan took revenge for Sunday’s defeat in Murrayfield with a crushing 8 – 2 win at the Braehead Arena, ensuring the bragging rights stay in Scotland’s biggest city rather than its capital.
The intercity derby is always a hotly contested match and it was an impressive display from the home side, who went into the game without the injured Jordan Krestanovich and suspended Kyle Bruce. Brock McPherson opened the scoring on 7:06 before taking advantage of a powerplay to bag his second on 12:10.
The first period was thoroughly one sided and it came as a shock when the Caps pulled the deficit back to one, with Peter Holecko scoring four minutes before the break. If any home fans feared the goal could shift the momentum in favour of the Capitals they need not have worried, as Braehead continued to dominate.
Player/Coach Drew Bannister restored the home side’s two goal lead a minute after the restart, before McPherson grabbed his hat-trick 40 seconds later. Clan were hungry and on 26:18 Aidan Fulton scored his first ever goal for the club to make it 5 – 1, steering the puck into the net with a clever backhand shot while facing away from goal.
Matt Heywood added a sixth in the 35th minute as the Edinburgh defence began to crumble, but the Caps continued to work hard and a minute later they got their second as Marcis Zembergs tapped a loose puck over the line the result was already beyond doubt, but the goal stopped Braehead’s one-way surge and rewarded the visitors’ efforts.
The final period was a tame affair with more passing and fewer hits, as players on both sides sensibly avoided taking needless risks. Clan’s Brock McPherson rounded off a fantastic individual performance with his fourth goal of the night on 49:58, before Adam Walker completed the scoring moments later with Braehead’s eighth.
Edinburgh will be disappointed that they failed to follow up Sunday’s win with a more positive performance in Glasgow, but Clan may also wonder why their clear superiority at home so completely disappeared on the road. As the match drew to a close Braehead supporters began chanting “Bring on Belfast”, but the players will know facing the Giants in the Odyssey Arena will be a far sterner test.
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