Storm Put A Little Rain On Giants' Title-Winning Weekend

Adam Keefe’s side got goals from JJ Piccinich, Jake Gaudet and Carsen Twarynski, but they were unable to make it a six-point weekend as Manchester took it in the final frame, although that did little to dampen the celebrations.

First period

The Storm were ahead with just 28 seconds on the clock as Harrison Caines’ pass sent Stephen Johnson in on Alex Caffi and he finished five-hole on the netminder (1-0) and the home side had two big chances to extend their lead early as Reid Irwin sat for a delay of game penalty and then the Giants were also called for too many men, however the visitors’ penalty kill was rock solid.

Belfast’s first trip to the powerplay - Nick Welsh heading off for slashing - was also scoreless although that did swing the momentum firmly in the Giants’ favour, however they couldn’t find a way past Evan Weninger, who stood strong to deny Twarynski’s drive down the right wing and also some sustained pressure in front of the net.

Instead, it would be Manchester who would double their lead at 13:34 as Chase Harrison rifled in high from the left circle (2-0), however it would be the Giants who would finish the period stronger as Piccinich got them on the board at 17:34, tucking in a one-two with Karl Boudrias (2-1), and the same man nearly struck shorthanded right at the end of the period only to be denied by Weninger’s pad as Gabe Bast sat for slashing.

Second period

Another quick start to the period saw the Storm add a third just 75 seconds in as Brandon Cutler took down a pass in front and went high blocker on Caffi (3-1), but the Giants were quick to respond as Gaudet got them back within one again at 24:17, the centre found streaking into the left circle by Jordan Kawaguchi and finishing past Weninger via the post (3-2).

Just over two minutes later it would be a tie game again as Twarynski capitalised on a slip from a Storm defenceman to break away and finish blocker side on Weninger at 26:25 (3-3), and the Giants were close to taking the lead shortly after on a holding call against Bradley Jenion but the powerplay again was denied by some excellent Manchester defence.

Both teams had huge chances to take a lead into the third period at the end of the middle frame, Kaleb Ergang denied by Caffi and then Kawaguchi’s breakaway blocked by the pad of Weninger, but the best save went to the outstanding Caffi, who saved brilliantly from Caines and then somehow gloved down Joseph Nardi’s rebound attempt when it appeared the Storm forward had an empty net to shoot into.

Third period

With both sides feeling the effects of a third game in as many days, the third period started at a rather pedestrian pace, but it was finally sparked into life when Cutler grabbed his second goal of the game to give the Storm the lead back at 50:28, jamming the puck in from close range (4-3).

The Giants emptied the tank to try and get the tying goal and rained pucks on Weninger in a bid to take the game to overtime, however the Storm netminder stood firm and made some impressive saves in the final two minutes after the Giants pulled Caffi for the extra out-skater - although the result would not dampen the celebrations on a memorable weekend for the organisation.

Next up

The Belfast Giants enter the final week of the regular season, with the Coventry Blaze the visitors to The SSE Arena, Belfast on Wednesday April 1 and the Guildford Flames coming to Belfast on Saturday April 4, before rounding out their schedule away to the Blaze on Sunday April 5.