Giants Stung By Steelers Comeback

Goals from Josh Roach and David Goodwin had the Giants two goals up heading into the final frame in Sheffield, but the home side would prevail with five goals in the final 13 minutes to cut the Giants’ lead at the top of the standings.

First period

The Giants started the game with more possession, and they carved out the first real chance when Bo Hanson’s shot was nearly tipped in by Ben Lake, before Jeff Baum joined the rush and was denied by the pad of Matt Greenfield, while at the other end Jackson Whistle was called into action on multiple occasions as the Steelers ramped up the pressure.

But a delay of game penalty on Daniel Ciampini allowed Belfast to apply some pressure of their own on the powerplay and, although they didn’t score, Roach would give them the lead shortly after Ciampini returned to the ice, Bobo Carpenter finding him in the left circle and the defenceman roofing the puck at 13:15 (0-1).

Both sides had opportunities to strike late in the period on powerplays as first Robert Dowd headed off for Sheffield for hooking and David Goodwin rang the post on a rebound chance and even when shorthanded - Elijiah Barriga called for hooking as well - the Giants still created the better chance as Bobo Carpenter just missed the net on the breakaway.

Second period

It took just 54 seconds of the middle frame for the Giants to add their second, Mark Cooper showing great tenacity behind the net to bring the puck back in front and Goodwin was there to bury the rebound (0-2), but the Steelers continued to threaten, too, as Balmas hit the post off Patrick Watling’s cross-ice feed.

Sheffield was pressing for chances in close but finding Whistle hard to beat, with the netminder able to keep the home side at bay with his best save seeing him clutch a rasping shot from Watling from the left circle before blockering away an effort from Brien Diffley from the same spot.

Third period

As expected, Sheffield had a pushback early in the third period but the Giants did well to limit them to outside looks and when they did get inside through Balmas, Whistle was there to make the stop, but eventually the home side found the breakthrough and it came from Marc-Olivier Vallerand, who found the top corner from the slot at 47:00 (1-2).

That gave the home side even more life and Whistle was required to turn away an attempted wraparound from Diffley, while Dowd and Vallerand both went close with chances around the net before Jordan Kawaguchi tested Greenfield on the breakaway at the other end.

But the tying goal would come on the powerplay as the Giants were caught with too many men on the ice and Dowd made them pay by tapping in at the back door at 53:17 (2-2) and the Steelers came close to taking the lead when Vallerand was denied by an excellent Whistle save in the slot when it looked like he was bound to score.

The home side would claim the victory, though, as Dowd stole in to fire past Whistle from close range at 56:19 for the game-winner (3-2), and the hosts would add some gloss to the scoreline as they struck twice with Whistle pulled for the extra skater, Watling getting the first at 58:09 (4-2) and Brandon Whistle adding the second at 59:19 (5-2).

Next up

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants return to home ice at The SSE Arena, Belfast for a massive home double-header with the Cardiff Devils on Friday 21 February and Saturday 22 February. Tickets are available here.