Giants Win Thriller to Take Third at Playoff Finals Weekend

First Period

The Giants were ahead by two just 25 seconds into the contest as Bobo Carpenter struck a double, Jordan Kawaguchi giving his line-mate two backdoor tap-ins after nine seconds (1-0) and 25 seconds (2-0), with Sheffield responding at 5:35 when Patrick Watling finished from in close (2-1).

Kawaguchi went from provider to scorer at 8:58 as he went in on the odd-man rush with Carpenter and rifled home from the left circle (3-1), but the Steelers responded at 10:45 when Brandon Whistle finished between the legs in close (3-2) before Andrew Dickson pulled off an outrageous save, gloving down an effort from Cole Shudra with the net seemingly gaping.

Sheffield would take the lead in the space of 25 seconds, Sam Tremblay tying it at 14:55 after good passing from Veeti Vainio and Daniel Ciampini (3-3) before Mitchell Balmas put them ahead at 15:10 when he pulled a move at the crease (3-4).

Second Period

Carpenter almost completed his treble inside the first 30 seconds of the second period as he hit the post from the right circle, and then Dominic Cormier did the same less than a minute later followed by Mark Cooper striking the iron from the angle, before Karl Boudrias did tie it up for the Giants at 26:06 as he tapped in the rebound from Cameron Pound’s initial shot (4-4).

Balmas handed the Steelers the lead back at 28:22 as he banked one in off the post (4-5), with Curtis Warburton making a string of impressive saves to deny Kyle Osterberg and Mark Cooper from tying the game up again, and then Dickson doing likewise when Kevin Tansey broke away for the Steelers.

Another post hit for Sheffield saw Tremblay strike the base of the iron in close, but the second period would end tied as Cooper got his goal at 38:00, rifling in from the right face-off dot (5-5).

Third Period

Dickson came up with a big save to deny a Vainio one-timer early in the final frame to keep the game tied, and Cooper rewarded him with the go-ahead goal at 44:10, another laser from the right circle finding the twine (6-5).

Back came the Steelers and Daniel Leavens tied it up once more at 50:00 when he delivered a fine finish from the right side (6-6), but two quick goals from the Giants secured the win as first Kyle Osterberg got in on the act at 51:19 when he flicked the puck in from a scramble around the net (7-6) and then Boudrias netted his second at 52:59 on the breakaway (8-6).

Sheffield did get one back through Kevin Tansey as he rounded Dickson on the one-on-one at 54:00 (8-7) but that was as close as they would get, the Steelers pulling Warburton for the extra skater in the final two minutes but unable to find the tying goal as Dickson shut the door to secure the win.

2025/26 Belfast Giants season tickets are on sale now. For more information or to secure your seat ahead of next season, please click here.