By Luke McGinnis
Dundee began strong, controlling the pace of play throughout the opening frame. Ben Almquist had the best chance to open the scoring when he was awarded a penalty shot after being slashed on a breakaway, but Jackson Whistle turned aside his effort.
Belfast opened the scoring through Jordan Kawaguchi, who picked up a pass from Mike Lee on a two-on-one rush and fired the puck past Emil Kruse at 07:12. Lee doubled the Giants’ lead on the powerplay at 09:37, blasting a one-timer from the circle past Kruse to make it 2-0.
A slashing call against J.J Piccinich gave the Stars their first powerplay of the night, which Ben Almquist converted on at 17:11. In just his second game back from injury, Almquist made it a one-goal game as his shot from the wall deflected off a Belfast skate and past Whistle.
Jordan Kawaguchi restored Belfast’s two-goal lead at 23:36, netting his second of the game by poking the puck home after Emil Kruse made the initial pad save.
A strong penalty kill by Dundee helped swing the momentum late in the period, and Spencer Naas capitalised to make it 3-2 at 35:21. Jackson Whistle stopped Keanu Yamamoto in close, but Naas was quick to the rebound and sent a backhand past the Giants’ netminder.
Jordan Kawasaki completed the hat trick just eighteen seconds into the third period, firing the puck from a tight angle above Kruse to make it 4-2 at 40:18.
Spencer Naas pulled the Stars back within one with his second of the night at 58:35. Drydn Dow’s powerful one-timer from the high slot was stopped by Whistle, but Naas reacted first to bury the rebound.
Despite a late surge of pressure from Dundee, Jake Gaudet sealed the win for Belfast with an empty-net goal at 58:51.
