EIHL Match Report 04/03/10

4th March 2010

Belfast Giants 9 Hull Stingrays 0
 
Belfast made their intentions known that they will not give up in their chase for the league title. They blanked Hull for a second time at home this season and have now netted 21 goals with the loss of only 4.
 
We’re now getting down to the business end of the league campaign and Belfast know they must win all their games from now to the end of the season and hope that Coventry slip up somewhere along the line.
 
Pat Bateman started the rout off with a brace inside the first ten minutes and then completed it with his hat trick marker with less than two minutes remaining.
 
This was Belfast’s sixth straight home win whilst Hull have now lost their last eight on the road.
 
With 6.45 on the clock Pat Bateman (27th/28th) netted the opening goal and then got his second at 9.52 the home fans had to wait until 17.22 before the third was scored and it came on the powerplay off the stick of Jeff Szwez (30th).
 
A further three goals in the second period from Belfast ended the game as a contest. A second powerplay goal this time from Evan Cheverie (24th) at 23.18 took the score line to 4-0. Two goals just over a minute apart put Belfast in easy street Pierre-Luc Faubert (16th) at 32.27 on the powerplay and then Michael Jacobsen (12th) at 33.45 stretched their lead to 6-0
 
It was a case of damage limitations in the third period for Hull and goaltender Raitums although beaten another three times also turned away 18 of the 21 shots he faced. Sean McMorrow (3rd) at 46.07 made it seven and then Craig Peacock (23rd) at 49.51 got his name on the score sheet before Pat Bateman (29th) with his hat trick marker at 58.09 completed the scoring.
 
Period Scores: 3-0, 3-0, 3-0
Penalty Mins: Bel 6 Hul 8
Powerplay: Bel 3/4 Hul - 0/3
Shots On: Stephen Murphy 24 – Martins Raitums 43
Referee: Tom Darnell
 
Game Notes:
Belfast’s final goal was their 800th competitive EIHL goal scored at home