Giants’ End Double-Header Weekend With Two Points

Despite Matt McLeod grabbing his sixth goal in five games and some excellent stops from netminder Tyler Beskorowany, Adam Keefe’s men can no longer retain their title as they now trail the Steelers by 19 points with just nine games remaining.

First period

The Giants went two goals down inside the first 1:05 as Daniel Ciampini put the Steelers ahead just 28 seconds in when he tapped in Scott Allen’s pass across the face of goal (1-0) and then Mitchell Balmas doubled their advantage as he snapped home a shot from the slot. (2-0)

Neither side could score on abbreviated powerplays midway through the period as Josh Roach (elbowing) was joined in the box by Robert Dowd (high sticking), with Beskorowany making an excellent stop to deny Mikko Juusola on the breakaway at 4-on-4 and then again as Mark Simpson went through shorthanded after Allen was boxed for charging.

But the Giants would score on Allen’s penalty to get on the board as a stretch pass down the middle found McLeod streaking into the zone to slot home at 11:03 for the powerplay goal (2-1), only for Sheffield to strike back almost immediately as Beskorowany couldn’t ice a pass and Dowd was there to poke it in on the doorstep at 12:41. (3-1)

A late tripping call on Roach saw the Giants back on the penalty kill and a series of events, that saw McLeod break his stick and a player lose his helmet, left them defending two men down and Patrick Watling was able to deliver the back door pass for Balmas to tap in for the fourth at 18:58. (4-1)

Second period

An early powerplay chance fell to the Giants as Kevin Tansey was boxed for slashing but they couldn’t connect, while Balmas was inches away from a hat-trick as he struck the crossbar on a 5-on-3 powerplay as Roach (roughing) and Will Cullen (delay of game) were off the ice, but the visitors were able to complete a double kill for just shy of the full two minutes.

Sheffield centre, Brandon Whistle, had a big chance as he was left alone on the doorstep but couldn’t beat Beskorowany, while at the other end Blake Speers was unable to tip in a shot and the Steelers were just about able to clear the puck away.

A period of few chances would end with Brien Diffley being unable to turn in Josh Nicholls’ pass on a Sheffield odd-man rush before the Giants got a late powerplay as Sam Jones was sent off for delay of game, but they were unable to convert before the buzzer.

Third period

Another strong start to the final period saw Sheffield hit the post early as Cole Shudra shot through the legs of Beskorowany but off the ironwork, then the Giants seen off a tripping call against Roach and the defenceman had a big chance shortly after he burst out from the box as he was found steaming onto the puck in the right circle but shot wide.

Another penalty against Daniel Tedesco for hooking put the Steelers back onto the powerplay and Beskorowany made an impressive stop to deny Balmas his treble and then another to stop Brett Neumann from scoring, with the goaltender making another excellent stop to prevent Watling from grabbing a goal on the breakaway.

But there was nothing the goaltender could do to stop Allen from adding the fifth at 55:01, the forward backhanding a shot through the five-hole of the netminder (5-1), and then Marc-Olivier Vallerand rapped in a one-timer at 55:54 for a powerplay goal (6-1) - Davy Phillips penalised for delay of game - to round off the scoring.

Next up

The Stena Line Belfast Giants return to The SSE Arena, Belfast for another double-header with the Guildford Flames on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March. Tickets are available HERE.