Two goals were enough for HC Innsbruck to secure the win against the Belfast Giants in front of their home crowd. The away team are still on the hunt for their first win of the 2023/24 season of the Champions Hockey League as they head home for a series of three final Regular Season games in The SSE Arena. 

The scoreboard remained unchanged during the opening period as both teams struggled to catch the goalies off guard. Jeff Baum got a penalty call for tripping at 4:39 offering Innsbruck a chance to take the lead. this appeared to be an impossible task for the Austrians and therefore the score remained locked at 0-0. Belfast also had the advantage of a powerplay, but unfortunately for them that also ended without a change on the scoreboard.

The away team had control over the first minutes of the second period. Their play put pressure on their opponent resulting in a too-many-players call against Innsbruck. The atmosphere was heated in the TIWAG Arena so much that a penalty (for engaging with spectators) was dealt to Belfast.

The first goal of the night came in the final minutes of the second period when Braeden Shaw stole the puck from Belfast’s defenceman and found himself in a battle against the final obstacle, goalie Tyler Beskorowany. The first shot didn’t make it through, but the rebound puck was picked up by Gordon Green who finished the job to break the deadlock.

Innsbruck had a great opportunity to increase their lead during the closing period when a 5-on-3 powerplay was given to them after a slashing and tripping penalty was called in their favour, but Belfast had other plans and scored a spectacular equaliser while playing two men down when Matt McLeod sprinted for a loose puck in centre ice and beat the goalie to make it 1-1. 

Innsbruck didn’t wait long to return into the driver’s seat of the game. The winning goal of the game belonged to Corey Mackin who cemented victory with a well-placed shot. With the clock at 0, the scoreboard showed a 2-1 victory for the Austrians who take their second set of three points and second home ice victory of the season.