On the night when Paxton Schulte’s jersey was retired officially for good the Giants made it an extra special night for the fans by winning their fifth straight game keeping the pressure on Coventry at the top of the league.  It may be a huge task for the Giants to catch them but the recent form stuggests they will give it their best shot and should they fall short they will be in fine form going into the playoffs.  Ed Courtenay iced for the 7th straight game, going into the contest it was not yet sure if he would return behind the bench allowing Huppe back into the team now that six games have passed but he opted to keep the winning formula and Huppe ran things from behind the bench.

The Giants went down by a goal early but stuck to their game plan.  Early on they where struggling to create breakout passes into the offensive zone but when they did get in there they kept the puck there for prelonged periods of time but could not find the way to goal.  It did eventually come however on 15 minutes when Kelman fired home, but while the fans where celebrating and the goal was being announced Newcastle went up the other end and made it 2-1. 

Jason Ruff tied things up with the only goal of the second period, he was having one of his best games of the season and really running things for the Giants.  His line-mates Courtenay and Hutchins where, at times, struggling but with the form they have been in we knew it wouldn’t last.

By the third period Schulte who had been watching the game from the stands alongside the fans (would he have done it any other way?) had a table set up for him on the bridge where a line of fans had gathered looking autographs from their favourite son.

A crowd of 4500 + had packed into the arena for the special night, the second time in three games the Odyssey has seen a plus 4500 crowd.  The fans have certainly been getting behind their team when they have needed it the most.  The players have responded.

The Giants took charge in the third with two goals by Hutchins and Awada who have kept their scoring form alive.  The Awada goal came into the empty net after he chased down a stray puck with Vipers tough guy Andre Payette all over his back.  Awada held him off and pushed the puck into the net to comfirm the victory.

The Giants have the rest of the weekend off before playing in Killers testimonial on Tuesday night.

Giants-History.com 3 Stars:
1st Star: Jason Ruff
2nd Star: George Awada
3rd Star: Roman Gavalier

Category: Game Recaps (06-07) » » |

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