Giants Bounce Back To Claim Top Spot

Posted on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 11:44 pm

The LBM Belfast Giants bounced back from last nights loss in Sheffield by turning over the Steelers at the Odyssey Arena claiming top spot in the Challenge Cup standings. An end to end game seen the Giants take an early lead and looked to be cruising to a convincing win, however as has been the case on a number of occasions this season the visiting Steelers clawed their way back into the game to tie the game.

On a powerplay opportunity in the final period the Giants managed to get the curtail go ahead goal to give them a 5-4 victory over the Steelers who are chasing down the runners up spot in Challenge Cup Group A with the Giants now occupying the top spot. A win would have guaranteed Sheffield went through but it will now take a road win by Edinburgh by five goals to deny the Yorkshire men when they meet next Saturday.

Both team started with their back up goaltenders Nathan Craze and Dan Green and both put in a sterling performance.

The home side were in front early on as Evan Cheverie opened the scoring at 1.20. Five minutes later they had doubled their lead with a powerplay strike from Pat Bateman at 6.20. This was then increased to 3-0 with a shorthanded goal at 14.10 from Jeff Szwez. The visitors did pull one back inside the final minute of the period with a shorthanded goal from Brad Cruickshank.

The home side restored their three goal lead at 27.20 with a goal from Craig Peacock. A Jeff Legue shorthanded goal at 29.03 cut the deficit back to two. There was no further scoring in the second period.

It was a one goal game at 49.37 as Robert Dowd found the back of the net and at 52.38 it was game on as Brad Cruickshank with his second of the game on the powerplay made it all square at 4 apiece. The Giants had enough left in their tanks to find a game winner and it came off the stick of Brandon Benedict at 55.23 as he netted on the powerplay.

Period Scores: 3-1, 1-1, 1-2
Penalty Mins: Bel 42 She 22
Powerplay: Bel 1/6 – She 1/6
Shots On: Nathan Craze 27 – Dan Green 43
Referee: Dean Smith