Posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 12:09 am
The LBM Belfast Giants suffered possibly a fatal blow in their league challenge as they went down against a Steelers side who they had beaten 3-1 in the same venue last night and perhaps the visitors only had themselves to blame as three of the four home goals were scored on the powerplay, with Giants giving up no less than ten powerplay opportunities to the home side.
The opening period took some time to open up as both sides were keen to give nothing away but Steelers opened the scoring at 14.53 with Jonathan Zion (4th) firing home. Giants hit back to equalise with Jeff Szwez (25th) finding the target at 18.19 on the powerplay but it was the home side who took a lead into the period break when Kevin Bolibruck (4th) scored at 19.35 on the powerplay.
The second session saw Giants tie the game again at 23.47 as Szwez (26th) hit his second of the game but Steelers regained their lead with a powerplay effort by Jeff Legue (29th) at 25.57.
Steelers gained a two-goal advantage early in the third period with Doug Sheppard (13th) netting on the powerplay at 46.27 and with Giants struggling to gain any momentum due to a succession of trips to the penalty box they did well to stay in the game and in fact ensured an interesting finish when Pierre-Luc Faubert (15th) scored at 58.58 just after goaltender Stephen Murphy had been withdrawn.
Despite pulling Murphy again in the final minute Giants could not force the tying goal and their league title hopes now rest with a Coventry collapse or a Giants unbeaten run to the end of the season.
Period Scores: 2-1, 1-1, 1-1
Penalty Mins: She 8 – Bel 30
Powerplay: She 3/10 – Bel 1/4
Shots On: Andrew Verner 20 – Stephen Murphy 31
Referee: Andy Carson
© 2008 Belfast Giants Limited, unless otherwise stated. Imagery © Michael Cooper Photography.
