The Belfast Giants started their pre-season campaign in perfect fashion with goals from Colby McAuley, Ciaran Long and Mark Cooper giving them a 3-1 win over title rivals Cardiff Devils at the Ice Arena in Wales.
New winger McAuley opened the scoring in the first period, a goal that was nullified by Joey Martin’s equalizer for the Devils in the second period, but Long and Cooper scored in the third to give the Giants the win.
Adam Keefe’s team got off to a strong start from goalkeeper Peyton Jones, who made some stunning saves to hold off the dangerous Devils, allowing them to claim victory in the third.
Jones got off to a brilliant start to the game when he denied Blake Thompson on a breakaway within the first two minutes, while at the other end the Giants were unable to connect on two power plays when Bayley Harewood (stumble) and Josh Brittain (cut ) both sat down.
But McAuley had them ahead at the first intermission. David Gilbert fought hard behind the net to win the puck and fed Tyler Soy. The center then found McAuley in front for the finish at 16:11.
Jones made another big save to deny Ryan Penny on the penalty spot when Matt Foley headed to the cross-check, and the Giants survived a big scare early in the second period when Brodie Reid hit the post from the slot, and then they played. a trip call against Kevin Raine, but the third time he asked about the power play, the Devils would not be denied.
It was Foley out again, this time on interference, and Martin was free in the right circle to beat Jones low to tie it at 14:29 of the half frame.
But for Jones it could have been worse right at the end of the period, but the keeper pushed a bag to deny Devil what appeared to be a game-winning goal at the back post just as the buzzer sounded.
And he was rewarded by his forwards as Long played a one-two with Sam Ruopp as the Giants caught the Devils in a change and the British striker finished with a backhand past Ben Bowns to make it 2-1 at 9:45. of the last period.
The Giants had to finish off a late goalkeeper interference on Gilbert, but once they were done, Cooper clinched the result with an empty net with 11 seconds remaining.
Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk