Newcastle Vipers 1 Belfast Giants 3

Mar 31 2008 The Journal

GOALIE Ryan McDonald’s penalty-shot save propelled the Vipers into next Saturday’s play-off semi-final game.

The young Canadian foiled Ed Courtenay’s attempt to fire the puck through his leg to earn the Vipers a 2-1 penalty shot win after the aggregate score at the end of overtime was tied at 6-6.

Vipers captain David Longstaff and defence Ben Storey were successful in their head-to-head challenges with Giants goalie Stevie Lyle.

McDonald saved Peter Campbell’s attempt to give the Vipers an immediately advantage but he was later beaten by Scott Cameron.

The Vipers went into the second leg game leading 5-3 and were three minutes away from winning in regulation time but Cameron volleyed home the puck after McDonald had battered it upwards.

The Vipers killed then wasted powerplays before going behind on 11 minutes when they were again a skater short, Campbell’s slot incursion being supplied with the ammunition by Courtenay. On 16 minutes the Vipers lost the services of their second-highest points scorer Derek Campbell, following some explosive moments in and around the Giants crease in which Lyle was taken out and the Vipers number 37 fought with Trevor Johnson. When relative calm was restored, Campbell was thrown out.

After delivering two big hits in quick succession Vipers man of the match Shaun Johnson struck the equaliser from close range eight minutes into the second period – his goal attempt taking a deflection which sent the puck almost vertically into the webbing.

With the Vipers fans protesting about Burt Henderson’s stick being deliberately knocked out of his hand, Shaun Sutter found McDonald’s weak spot, the area above his left-hand shoulder, to put the Giants 2-1 ahead on the night and 6-4 in arrears on aggregate.

The foundations for victory were laid in Dundalk on Saturday night where the Vipers were 4-0 ahead within 28 minutes.

A brace by defenceman Ben Storey added to by Shaun Johnson and Colin Shields put the Vipers in the commanding position which was threatened by a Giants recovery spanning the second break.

Peter Campbell and Shaun Sutter made it 2-4 before Jeff Hutchins produced a timely powerplay marker on 45 minutes to put the Vipers three ahead.

Campbell again beat goalie Ryan MacDonald with just under 10 minutes left to play but the Vipers were in no mood to concede any more.

BELFAST GIANTS: Campbell 2+0, Sutter 1+0, Awada 0+2, Dutiaume 0+1.

NEWCASTLE VIPERS: Storey 2+0, Hutchins, Johnson and Shields 1+1, Jackson and Longstaff 0+1.

NEWCASTLE VIPERS: Storey 1+0, Longstaff and Payette 0+1.

COORS BELFAST GIANTS: Sutter 1+1, Campbell and Cameron 1+0, Courtenay 0+1.