Giants Extinguish Flames Hopes of Bounceback in Belfast

Published on: 14 Dec, 2025
Updated on: 14 Dec, 2025

Mathieu Gosselin scored both goals on the powerplay and Justin Fazio made 37 saves, but Flames fell just short in game two of the road double, falling 3-2 at Belfast Giants on Saturday night (December 14).

Goalkeeper Fazio helped Flames get out of a scoreless opening frame thanks to 16 saves against just five on Giants Jackson Whistle.

Belfast finally solved that riddle, however, with a couple in quick succession early in the frame when Mike Lee and Ryan Smith scored 39 seconds apart. Gosselin cut the deficit in half on a 27th minute powerplay.

Goalie Fazio kept out all but three of the Giants’ 40 shots. William Cherry/Presseye

Then, just as a Giants extra man advantage timed out, Scott Conway re-stored the hosts two-goal spread, but a four-minute Flames powerplay before the period timed helped Spectrum’s men pull within a goal at the break, thanks to Gosselin’s second of the contest.

The bulk of the third evaporated before Flames pulled goalie Fazio in favour of an extra skater a little over a minute from time in an effort to level, but unable to find the equaliser, the game closed with Flames still a goal adrift.

Fazio saw 40 shots against the Giant’s Whistle who kicked away 17 of 19.

“It was great to see the powerplay get some scoring,” explained Paul Dixon, “but we did not do enough 5 on 5 in terms of possession and chance creation. We need to work to be better in that area next weekend.”

“We are back on home on Saturday against Coventry and hopefully we can put together a better result.”