Giants Fall Short in Overtime as Steelers Take Victory

Despite goals from Josh Roach, Cameron Pound and David Goodwin helping Adam Keefe’s men force the extra period, it would be the visitors who would take the extra point in the first game of their weekend double-header through Patrick Watling’s goal.

First period

The game got off to a disastrous start for the Giants as the Steelers manufactured a 3-on-1 break on the first shift of the game and Mark Simpson fired home for the opener after just 38 seconds (0-1), although the home side came back strong and Anthony Morrone had to make a smart stop to deny a slapshot from Will Cullen.

The equaliser came, though, and Roach provided it as he led the rush up ice and finished a one-two with Goodwin at 7:12 (1-1), and both sides had big opportunities to take the lead shortly after, Pound denied by Anthony Morrone out front all alone, while at the other end Jackson Whistle made an impressive double stop to first deny Colton Saucerman’s slapshot and then Mitchell Balmas’ rebound.

A breathless period continued and the Giants’ top line nearly produced a goal of the season contender, Daniel Tedesco reversing the pass through the crease for Ben Lake but he shot wide, and straight up the other end went the Steelers only for Watling to fire high and wide of the cage when through on Whistle.

Belfast would lead at the first intermission, though, and after being denied earlier Pound would make no mistake with the finish from the slot at 14:57 (2-1) and only a Saucerman clearance off the line would prevent them from adding a third before the break as Morrone couldn’t glove down a shot from Miles Gendron and it bounced over his shoulder and into the blue paint.

Second period

An early chance for Tedesco saw him hit the post from the angle before Robert Dowd took the first penalty of the game for slashing but, despite an array of chances, the Giants couldn’t take advantage with the extra man, and a Cullen shot was tipped inches wide in front by Lake.

Still the chances kept coming for the Giants as Blake Speers dropped a pass back for Ara Nazarian, who rocketed his shot just wide, and then Jacob Friend also sent a piledriver just past the right-hand post of Morrone and Pound was denied a second by the blocker of the netminder as he was set up on the backhand by Kohei Sato.

Calls on Watling (hooking) and Marc-Olivier Vallerand (roughing) gave the Giants another two powerplay chances late in the period but Morrone made two exceptional and almost identical stops to deny two Mark Cooper one-timers, with another at the death to deny Sato on an odd-man rush, but Whistle did likewise to prevent Daniel Ciampini scoring on the breakaway to maintain the one-goal lead at the break.

Third period

Mikko Juusola had the first opportunity of the final period for the Steelers, skating in from the blue-line and firing wide of the cage, before the Giants had a string of chances in quick succession, Nazarian unable to tip in an effort from in close before then firing over on the turn from the slot and then Roach had a shot from the right circle gloved down by Morrone.

The Giants survived a post hit on the powerplay, Pound (slashing) sitting and Brett Neumann unable to turn an effort home from in close, although Tedesco nearly grabbed a shorthanded goal the other way only to find the midriff of Morrone, but the tying goal finally came at 53:03 as Kevin Tansey hammered a one-timer from the high slot that found the top corner. (2-2)

A late penalty on Cullen (tripping) saw Sheffield get the powerplay and they took full advantage, Balmas firing low into the bottom corner at 57:19 (2-3) to seemingly give the Steelers the win in regulation, but at 58:12 the Giants tied it again as Goodwin fired the puck to the back post and a Steelers skate deflected it in for the tying goal. (3-3)

Overtime

It wouldn’t take long for overtime to be settled unfortunately, Juusola having an initial chance just after the puck drop, but just 44 seconds in Watling grabbed the winner, sniping low past Whistle to hand the extra point to the visitors. (3-4)

Next up

The Stena Line Belfast Giants complete their regular season schedule with the second game of their double-header against the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday April 6 before entering the Play-Offs, the home leg of which will be on Saturday April 13 against a yet to be confirmed opponent. Tickets available here.