By Luke McGinnis
A boarding call on Stars’ captain Travis Ewanyk within the opening minute gave Belfast an early man-advantage, which David Goodwin converted at 01:53 with a wrist shot from the left circle past Vladislav Pestov.
The Giants remained in control throughout the first period, outshooting Dundee 6:18 and forcing Pestov to make a number of tough saves.
However, the Kazakh international was sharp in his return to the Stars’ lineup and kept the score at 0-1 heading into the second period.
Nicolas Guay made it 0-2 at 27:24, capitalising on a turnover in the Stars’ zone and firing the puck from the high slot past Pestov.
A tripping call on Jonathan McBean gave the home side their second power play of the night less than a minute after Guay’s goal.
A cross-ice pass from Patrick Guay gave Kaleb Pearson a wide-open net to shoot into on the man-advantage. However, Pestov made a crucial diving stick save, potentially a save-of-the-year contender, to deny Pearson.
A stretching pad save on Goodwin in close late in the period denied the Giants a third, with the score remaining 0-2 going into the final frame.
Sebastian Bengtsson took exception to a hit from Jaeden Martin at 45:32, dropping the gloves with the Giants’ defenceman in a short yet spirited bout.
Ciaran Long scored a third goal for the Giants at 56:31, sending a quick shot off the rush from the right circle into the Stars’ net.
J.J. Piccinich finished the scoring just over 90 seconds later, capitalising on a turnover in the Stars’ zone to fire a shot from the high slot past Pestov at 58:04.
