Belfast Giants 4 - 1 Cardiff Devils

Faceoff: 19:00 - 04/02/12

This year’s Challenge Cup final will be a repeat of last year’s final, where Belfast will be looking for revenge and to lift the cup they last held three year ago. As for Nottingham they will be going for a hat-trick of wins – five overall!

Stuart MacRae who scored the quickest goal of the season with only 11 seconds on the clock against the Giants on 30th December was on the mark with the opening goal this time with 39 seconds on the clock.

Two goals in two minutes turned the game around, as ex-Devil Jon Pelle on the powerplay levelled at 15.20 and then Craig Peacock found the net at 17.14 to put the Giants in front and to make the Challenge Cup game all square. The Giants were awarded a penalty shot with a minute to go in the period, however Robert Dowd failed to convert as Lyle produced the save.

Belfast netted a third goal from the stick of Dowd though, on the powerplay at 31.34. This gave them a two-goal lead in the league game and a one-goal advantage in the cup game.

Aaron Clarke completed the scoring at 51.11 as he netted a fourth goal for the home side.

Period Scores: 2-1, 1-0, 1-0
Penalty Mins: Bel 14 – Car 24
Powerplay: Bel 3/6 – Car 0/6
Shots On: Stephen Murphy 33 – Stevie Lyle 26
Referee: Tom Darnell