Cheverie Seals Empathic Comeback at 59.50

Posted on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 2:16 am

The LBM Belfast Giants clawed back a three goal deficit in the third period to defeat the Sheffield Steelers 5-4 at the Odyssey Arena on Friday night closing the gap on the Coventry Blaze to keep their title hopes alive.

With two seconds on the clock both teams enforcers McMorrow and Sgroi went head to head with both being binned on five minute majors for fighting. McMorrow put Sgroi to the ice however the Steelers tough guy quickly got to his feet, wanting to resume the bout but was denied as the officials stepped in before any more punches could be thrown.

Sheffield drew first blood as their captain Jonathan Phillips opened the scoring on the powerplay at 7.01.They then doubled their lead with another powerplay goal from Jonathan Zion at 12.12.

Craig Peacock brought the Giants back within a goal at 14.34 as he walked in from the right wing side on the powerplay and roofed a wrister near post over Verner’s glove.

The visitors restored their two goal lead at 26.49 with a goal from Doug Sheppard and with 40 seconds of the period remaining they increased it to a three goal lead with a powerplay goal from Joey Talbot giving the Steelers a 4-1 lead going into the final frame.

The Giants came out for the third period with the bit between their teeth and some undisciplined penalties from the Steelers gave the Giants a number of powerplay chances in which they converted.

With just over ten minutes remaining the comeback started as Michael Jacobson received a pass from Shields and launched a wrister through a crowd to find the back of the net on the powerplay, beating Verner low stick side.

Tim Cook then made it a one-goal game at 52.15. Having latched onto a stray puck in his own end Cook rushed through the neutral zone and as he crossed the Steelers blueline ripped a wrister from the top of the right circle past the Sheffield netminders.

The Giants then tied the game at 56.57. The Steelers turned the puck over in the neutral zone and Evan Cheverie was quick to latch onto it, making a burst down the left wing side and with the Steelers defenseman breathing down his neck he cut to the centre and despite flying through the air slotted the puck past Verner in the Sheffield goal.

Cheverie added a second, the game-winning goal, with only 9.9 seconds remaining on the clock. With the Steelers rattled due to the Giants comeback George Awada made a last gasp effort, carrying the puck into the Steelers zone, and his centring pass was converted by Cheverie giving the Giants the lead for the first time in the game to seal a valuable 2 points.

George Awada’s assist on the fifth goal gave him his 200th career EIHL assist, becoming the 7th player in Elite League history to achieve this landmark.

Period Scores: 1-2, 0-2, 4-0
Penalty Mins: Bel 15 She 19
Powerplay: Bel 3/6 She – 3/4
Shots On: Stephen Murphy 29 – Andrew Verner 58
Referee: Tom Darnell