ICE HOCKEY PICTURE SPECIAL: Belfast Giants hit ten past Lightning at SSE Arena
They had to come from a goal down to do so, but, after hitting a purple patch in the second period when they raced into a five goal lead they went on to win.
But it was Lightning that struck first whenKevin King sent the puck past Chris Truehl. But the Giants didn’t take long to get back on level terms as Brendan Connolly got on the end of a shot from distance, delivered by Sebastian Sylvestre, to tip the puck home.
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Hide AdRyan Martinelli then went close and Sylvestre’s shot hit the post before Colin Shields got the go-ahead goal in the 19th minute with a wrist shot after assists from Connolly and Spiro Goulakos.
The Giants were in almost total control in the second period, scoring four times without reply, Steve Saviano making it 3-1 six minutes in after taking an inside pass from Dustin Johner.
Saviano then added his second of the night on 34:55.
Fewer than two minutes later, it was 5-1 when Rutherford fired home. Then it was Riley’s turn to get in on the act when he scored from a narrow angle.
Denny Kearney pulled one back on 40:56 but Rutherford made it 7-2 with a superb finish and Sylvestre added number eight.
The teams shared four goals in the final eight-and-a-half minutes, Vandermeer and Sylvestre scoring for the Giants with Lewis Hook and Ben Foster replying for the visitors.