Belfast Giants 6-3 Excel Hull Stingrays
An Excel Hull Stingrays side down to just ten skaters tonight lost out in Belfast in the second game of a hectic six day schedule that will see them take to the ice two more times this weekend.
The visitors, coming off the back of a heavy defeat in Wales to the Cardiff Devils, took a one-nil lead through Lee Mitchell, 2.41 in, however, the Giants bounced back strongly netting four times through Craig Peacock, Michael Jacobsen, Josh Prudden and Jeff Mason to all but settle the tie in favour of the title chasers.
Kurtis Dulle bagged a consolation first period goal, pulling the scoreline back to 4-2 13 minutes into the first but Brandon Benedict reopened the three goal advantage with less than six seconds remaining in the first.
Colin Hemingway then scored Belfast's sixth after a scoreless middle period but Mitchell closed out the scores with a consolation third goal to complete a fruitless but praiseworthy hardworking performance by the Rays, who were without Lee Esders, Aivars Gaisins, Ryan Lake, Jereme Tendler, Drew Bannister, Sylvain Cloutier and Craig Mitchell and whose keeper Christian Boucher faced 48 shots.
