The Giants completed a successful weekend on the road with another win, this time against Manchester Phoenix as the Giants came from behind late in the game to take the two points. Paul Deniset was the hero of the night scoring a hat trick that included the game tying goal with less than ten minutes left and then the game winning goal with 23 seconds remaining. The game looked to be heading to overtime when he scored his winner crushing the Phoenix side and giving the Giants all the points.

The best bit of news for the Giants, aside from Deniset’s clutch play, was that Coventry lost keeping the league table very tight at the top.

Hat Tricks

Deniset must enjoy playing the Phoenix. His hat trick was his second of the season and second against Manchester. The last came back on 4th October. It is the 5th hat trick scored by Giants players already this season with the club record for hat tricks in a season standing at 7 from 05-06. Paxton Schulte and Curtis Huppe hold the club record with 4 career hat tricks with the club. Another thing about Deniset’s hat trick tonight was that one goal came on the powerplay, another short handed and the next on even strength. I don’t know for sure but I would doubt that has been done before by a Giants player.

BOX SCORE

Manchester Phoenix 3 v 4 Belfast Giants
Elite League, Sunday 16th November 2008, Manchester @ 5:30 p.m.

First Period:
1. Belfast, Thornton (Unassisted) 4:48
2. Manchester, Beauregard (Hand, Smith) 11:58 (pp)
3. Belfast, Deniset (Martin) 12:30 (sh)
4. Manchester, Walker (Clouthier) 13:45
Second Period:
None.
Third Period:
5. Manchester, Walker (Clouthier) 2:23
6. Belfast, Deniset (Burgoyne, Robins) 11:19 (pp)
7. Belfast, Deniset (Martin, Cheverie) 19:37

Penalty Minutes:
Manchester: Clouthier 2, Graham 2, Smith 2, Fulghum 2, Boothroyd 2, Dunn 2, Ward 2.
Belfast: Deniset 4, MacMillan 12, Awada 4, Robins 2.

Shots on Goal: Manchester: 10 X X – 10, Belfast: 16 X X – 16.
Powerplay: Manchester: 1-4, Belfast: 1-5.
Man of the Match: Manchester – Smith, Belfast – Deniset.
Referee: M Hanson.

Team:

Belfast: Lyle, Johnson, MacMillan, Deniset, Cheverie, Phillips, Thornton, Walton, Shields, Martin, Burgoyne, Robins, Awada, Sample, Howells, Craze.
Scratched: Morrison (injury).

Other Scores:
Newcastle Vipers 1 v 3 Nottingham Panthers
Cardiff Devils 2 v 2 Sheffield Steelers
Edinburgh Capitals 7 v 3 Hull Stingrays
Coventry Blaze 1 v 4 Basingstoke Bison

Notes:
- Giants only require 8 more PIMs to reach 10,000.
- Denesit grabs his second hat trick of the season against Manchester.

On the subject: Manchester Phoenix, Paul Deniset | ALL SUBJECTS |

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