The Giants needed this kind of game, but you wouldn't have thought that with the way they came out in the first period. The Bruins were the better team in the opening frame, but a short-handed marker against by the Giants shifted the momentum the visitors way. The new more physical Giants team we have been seeing as of late were very effective tonight on the scoresheet and the fight card. A fight early in the second after the Giants increased their lead to 2-0 gave the G's more momentum and they never looked back. Potting two more in the second the Giants bulged that lead to 4 goals. The third was very physical, chippy as the Giants continued to bring a heavy game, winning both fights handily. Adding two more goals in the third the G-Men put the game away. The Giants would have preferred to get more shots on goal, but the effort they put forth to get their goals was enough to get the job done.
The first saw the Bruins take charge early, but they could not solve Mark Segal and late in the first allowed a SH goal against which tilted the ice the Giants way. James Henry found the twine off the breakaway, being set-up by Brendan Gallagher. In the second the Giants brought a much better game, getting a bit confidence off of Henry's 6th SH goal of the season. Henry got his second of the game off of some great work by Tomas Vincour and Milan Kytnar. Off the ensuing face-off Nolan Toigo and Shayne Neigum, who probably wishes he stayed in bed today, square off and Neigum gets absolutely hammered by the big defenseman who has lately been discovering his inner pugilist and is liking it. Vincour's patience was rewarded later in the period when he held onto the puck until he could find James Wright going to the net. Wright scored his 5th of the season. Henry was in the points again when he got the assist on a hard-working goal by Milan Kytnar, gutting out a marker with patience and drive. Wright and Neigum had a bit of pushing match late in the second setting up a fight when they both got out of the box in the third.
Wright was an assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat-trick tonight as he and Neigum tangled early in the third. Neigum was doing okay and then Wright turned on the power hitting and pummeled Neigum to the ice. Mid-period Connor Redmond had a tap-in goal off of yet more incredible work by Henry who got his 4th point of the night on the play, Kytnar got the other assist. Brendan Gallagher scored his 39th of the season just under a minute later. Craig Cunningham and Kevin Connauton got the helpers. Connauton's point gave him the franchise record for points scored by Giant defenseman in one season. Connauton already shattered Jonny Blum' s goal scoring record back in the fall and continues to set that bar high for the next guy. The rest of the third continued to be a physical affair, culminating when Brett Lyon took Tyler Stahl to task for a bit of a cheap hit. Lyon sent the message that if you screw with our skill players you will pay the price. Stahl paid the price.
The Giants and Bruins fired 24 shots apiece on each others net, with far different results. Neither team were able to get a PP goal to go in the game as the Bruins went 0 for 3 and the Giants 0 for 5, failing to capitalise 5 on 3 late in the third. The Giants had six goals from five goal scorers, with 5 of 6 coming even-strength and one short-handed. The Giants will finally get back into their home barn for the first time in over two months. Two of their last three games take place in the Coliseum. The Giants are hoping to get some revenge on two division rivals who handed them losses earlier this weekend. The Giants finally got their 40th win of the season tonight after being in a holding pattern for their past four tilts. The Rockets are up first on Friday at the Coliseum, which is hopefully completely re-set from the Olympic configuration He puck drops at 7:30pm on March 12th.
Three Stars
1.James Henry
2.Tomas Vincour
3.Mark Segal
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