The Genting Casino Coventry Blaze pushed the reigning Elite League Grand Slam Champions all the way at Skydome Arena on Saturday but were ultimately beaten by a score of 3-5.
Coventry entered the fixture without forward J.D. Dudek while Belfast had Daniel Tedesco out of their line-up.
The opening minutes belonged to the visitors, and it was former Blaze forward Johnny Curran who had the opening goal of the game finishing neatly on a breakaway just 18 seconds into his return to Skydome Arena.
Just over two minutes later, the Giants doubled their advantage when their man of the match Ciaran Long beat Blaze’s Taran Kozun short side for 0-2.
Despite finding themselves in an early hole, the Blaze responded well and managed to get back on level terms in the second period.
Kobe Roth’s fifth in five Elite League games at 25.27 got the home side deservedly on the board and the equaliser then came at 35.28 when Danny Kristo’s stunning pass was converted by Coventry’s man of the match Ian McNulty.
Ben Lake, also a former Blaze player, delivered his former side a blow putting the Giants ahead again at 38.03 and the second period ended 2-3.
Greg Printz re-established Belfast’s two-goal advantage on the powerplay at 43.59, but David Clements made it a one-goal game again 57 seconds later with Kristo again the provider.
Blaze pushed for the tying goal but Belfast’s ninth win in a row to start the season was secured by Long’s second with 1.05 to play.
Photo credit: Scott Wiggins
