After Flames pulled within a single on mid game powerplay, Belfast Giants scored 3 unanswered through the rest of the 2nd period to secure the league title for themselves while dashing the trophy hopes for Spectrum’s men who fell 6-1 on the road.
A couple of Giants’ goals inside the opening frame’s back 5 minutes gave the home team a lead at the break and an early leg up on the title grab with Ben Lake and Jeff Baum doing the honours.
At 28:59, Peter Crinella converted a powerplay to cut their deficit in half, but Giants replied 68 seconds later through Henrik Erisson who re-stored the 2 goal lead. He pushed it to a 3 goal spread in the 34th minute and Matt McLeod put the game out of reach at 37:59.
In the 3rd, Steven Owre iced their cake and kicked off the official celebrations when he bagged a late 3rd period 6th for the now Threepeat league crown holders.
Eamon McAdam was the far busier of the netminders turning away 35 of 41 shots while Tyler Beskorowany was good on 17 of 18 shots for Giants.
“First, congratulations to Belfast Giants," said Paul Dixon. "They are a great team and deserving champions. From our persepective, it is hard to find what to say after a game like that when on the one hand you are so disappointed to come so close to a league title, and at the same time super proud of everything this team has done just to be in this position in the last league weekend of the season.”
“The most important thing for the guys now is to figure a way to put this all in perspective and recognize the season they have had, and use that positive energy to start looking ahead to a final league game tomorrow and the playoffs where there is a still a trophy up for grabs so we still have a lot to play for.”
“Some exciting hockey ahead and we are looking forward to challenging everyone, including Belfast for the final trophy of the season.”
