Giants rally past Guildford for Final berth

The Stena Line Belfast Giants advanced to the 2019 Playoff Final with a 2-1 Semi-Final victory over the Guildford Flames on Saturday.

Staring at elimination with 10:30 remaining – final period goals from Jonathan Ferland and Pat Dwyer gave the Giants the comeback victory.

Sunday’s final will be the Giants first appearance in the showpiece occasion since 2014.

Next up for the Giants is Sunday vs either the Cardiff Devils who ousted the Nottingham Panthers.

Sunday’s face-off is 4pm and the big game will be shown live on television with FreeSports.

Tyler Beskorowany backstopped the Giants to the Semi-Final win with the Giants missing Andrew Dickson, David Rutherford and Guillaume Gelinas.

Both netminders, Tyler Beskorowany and Travis Fullerton, starred in the opening period with the Giants and Flames playing out an entertaining 20 minutes with end-to-end action in front of the sell out crowd in Nottingham.

The Guildford Flames struck the first blow in the Semi-Final when Ian Watters fired high into the Giants net at 24:14, assisted by John Dunbar and Jesse Craige.

The Belfast breakthrough happened at 49:30 when, after good work by Chris Higgins and Colin Shields, Jonathan Ferland hammered home to bring the game level.

Belfast piled on the pressure and at 55:11 they got their decisive goal. Pat Dwyer, assisted by Kyle Baun and Jordan Smotherman, was on-hand at the back post to rifle past Fullerton in the Guildford goal as the Giants secured their place in Sunday’s final.

Final Score

Stena Line Belfast Giants 2-1 Guildford Flames

Giants Player of the Game

#34 Tyler Beskorowany (17 Saves)