Giants Show Their Mettle to Put Steelers to the Sword

JJ Piccinich poked wide before Jackson Whistle was called into action at the other end to deny Colton Saucerman. Bobo Carpenter then couldn’t force a rebound over the line after Elijiah Barriga’s shot was turned away by Matthew Greenfield.

The deadlock was broken by the visitors just after the halfway point of the first period when a neat passing move saw Marc-Olivier Vallerand play the final pass to Robert Dowd to sweep home. (0-1)

To their credit, the Giants responded well and Jordan Kawaguchi broke away at pace but found himself alone as his team-mates changed lines. Goal scorer Dowd then had his pocket picked by Carpenter and, in his desperation to stop him, was penalised for hooking. The Giants had no fewer than four one-timers turned away by the visiting goalie during their man advantage with the notable efforts coming from Scott Conway and Mike Lee.

Despite another man advantage, the Giants would have to wait until the final minute to level. It was a beauty too as P.O. Morin and Lee worked the puck to Grant Mismash on the right hash marks. The man from Minnesota forced the puck through the one hole and over the line to head into the break level (1-1).

Second Period

The second period started as the first ended at a frenetic pace but it took over seven minutes for the first goal. However, when it did the game would explode into life. Gabe Bast – having already served a penalty in the period – sent a perfect pass from the boards on the blue line straight on to the blade of Bobo Carpenter’s stick and he had the simplest of tasks to divert it home to give the hosts the lead (2-1).

Less than two minutes later, the lead would extend and, having already notched two lovely goals, this one would arguably be the best. On his first appearance back in Belfast, David Goodwin found Ciaran Long in space. With a white and orange shirt still between him and the goal the Giants number 89 showed some sparkling stick work to leave the defender sprawling and fire into the roof of the net despite losing his footing. (3-1)

Any thoughts that the Steelers would roll over were put to bed when they scored a nice goal of their own as Patrick Watling finished off Maxim Golod’s pass. (3-2). This seemed to light the touch paper of this game as did a massive hit from Karl Boudrais. He was sat down for interference while Josh Roach and Vallerand were each given five minutes for fighting as a breathless second period came to an end.

Third Period

The Giants number one was called into action early in the second period as the visitors looked to ride their late momentum from the second into the last 20 minutes. It was Watling going in search of his second that was turned away before Greenfield made an impressive stop from Mismash at the other end with Lake spooning the rebound over. However, a fourth was just around the corner and it would be the captain who would get it. Some tenacious work from Lake at the boards kept the situation alive and, after Mismash got the puck on net, Mark Cooper rifled it home. (4-2)

While this gave the hosts some breathing space heading into the closing stages, it was not easy street the whole way home. In particular, Whistle was called into action again when Mikko Juusola broke to the other end of the ice after Morin tipped a shot wide. Ultimately, though the hosts held on for a big win to hold off the Steelers a place below them in the league.

Next Up

It’s a quick turnaround for the Stena Line Belfast Giants but there is more hockey to come at 4pm this Sunday 19 January as the Manchester Storm visit Belfast for the first time this season. Get remaining tickets here.