Steelers Have Field Day as Giants Shut Out at Home

The visiting netminder turned away all 23 shots he faced as Adam Keefe’s men couldn’t break down the league leaders, who triumphed thanks to two goals from Mikko Juusola and further strikes from Mark Simpson and Cole Shudra.

First period

An early Steelers powerplay kicked off the afternoon as Mark Cooper was penalised for holding, the Giants able to kill it off despite Robert Dowd having an excellent chance right in front that he fired wide, while at the other end Matt McLeod saw a broken play land right on his stick but he could only hit the post with Greenfield beaten.

But the Steelers would lead at 7:06 as Simpson forged them ahead, showing good speed down the boards to go behind the net and finish on the wraparound (0-1), and the lead was doubled at 10:07 when Shudra managed to squeeze the puck under the pads of Tyler Beskorowany - 25 saves - from a tight angle. (0-2)

The netminder redeemed himself with a big stop to deny Dominic Cormier when he was fed steaming into the offensive zone on the breakaway but there was little he could do to deny Juusola when the Finnish forward was sent in one-on-one and finished five-hole at 13:13 for the third. (0-3)

Belfast had a chance to strike back late in the period when Quinn Preston was tripped up following a big double save from Greenfield, but even on the powerplay the best chance went to the Steelers but Scott Allen fanned on his shot with the goal gaping.

Second period

The Giants’ penalty kill unit was called upon early in the middle frame as Charlie Curti was called for delay of game, and they had a 15-second 5-on-3 to navigate after a too many men bench minor, and Beskorowany made a big stop to deny Mitchell Balmas’ one timer from the right circle before the Giants again went scoreless on the powerplay as Niklas Nevalainen sat for tripping.

McLeod had another big chance to get the home side on the board when a pass up the seam found him streaking into the offensive zone but he was unable to beat Greenfield and the Steelers would once again convert on the penalty kill when Brien Diffley was boxed for holding.

Third period

MacIntrye had two chances to get Belfast on the board early in the final period as Preston set him up for the one-timer in the right circle, then the puck dropped to him on the doorstep but both times Greenfield was able to turn it away as the Giants pushed for a comeback, with another hooking call on Marc-Olivier Vallerand going unpunished.

But any hopes of a big night at the SSE Arena were dashed when Juusola added his second at 49:52 when Brett Neumann passed across the crease for the Finnish winger and he produced the finish to suck the air out of the bowl and make sure the two points were rubber-stamped for Sheffield.

Indeed, the visitors could have added to their tally but for two fantastic saves by Beskorowany to deny Dowd and Vallerand late on, ending a tough night at the office for the home side.

UP NEXT

The Stena Line Belfast Giants welcome the Nottingham Panthers to The SSE Arena, Belfast on Friday December 8 before a trip to the SkyDome to take on the Coventry Blaze a day later. Tickets are available here.