Fife Flyers on cusp of Challenge Cup knockout stage after huge Belfast win

A thoroughly deserved 3-2 victory over Belfast Giants saw them take a huge steps towards clinching a place in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.

The win opened up a four-point gap on third placed Glasgow Clan within just three games to go, and also trimmed Giants lead in the group to four points.

An excellent crowd of 2000 thrilled to this open game which saw Flyers outwork their visitors, despite battling a sickness bug and injuries which saw two forwards play on the blue line.

It was as committed a team effort as you will see, with American netminder Blake Pietila enjoyed an assured home debut between the pipes, and a host of excellent performances were topped by Cameron Hough and Max Coyle who soaked up the ice time.

Giants applied most of the early pressure, clearly looking for a quick opening goal, but Fife weathered the storm and then got into a fine groove. They also created the better chances, keeping visiting netminder Jackson Whistle busy.

Flyers took the lead while shorthanded at 12:52 as Giants ‘ jittery defensive play saw them survive one scare coughing the puck - but not two. Cole Stewart pounced, and netted his own rebound while short-handed at 12:52. Garet Hunt almost doubled the advantage towards the end of the period, but his breakaway effort struck the crossbar.

Giants again started the second period strongly, but Fife doubled their lead at 26:24. Having killed off a penalty to Hunt, Flyers broke two-on-one, with Drábek setting up Mika Partanen to finish.

Belfast responded after Victor Björkung had a shorthanded chance saved at the other end. They broke up the ice, where David Goodwin took advantage of Fife's stretched penalty kill to set up Scott Conway, bringing the visitors back within one.

Both sides had opportunities to score again before the second intermission. Whistle produced an important save to deny Fife, while JJ Piccinich and Ciaran Long found themselves on a two-on-zero break, only for Pietilä to make the stop; another key step to victory.

Whistle came racing out of his goal to deal with a loose puck late in the period and seemed to take a knock diving on to the ice. After some physio, he didn’t re-appear for the third, with Jake Kupsky taking over.

Within three minutes he too was beaten as Flyers grabbed a key goal at 42:53 as Mike Petizian finished from a well-placed pass by Partanen.

Flyers then killed off a huge five on three penalty in another turning point before Nicolas Guay set up Morten Jensen to net at 52:01.

Giants pulled their netminder with two minutes to play, but Fife held out for a deserved win to keep their momentum rolling.