Giants slip to third after splitting points with the Steelers
One slip-up at home saw the Stena Line Belfast Giants drop to third place in the Elite League standings.
It all started whilst the Giants were on Continental Cup duty. Sheffield slipped by into first place, one point above Belfast in the League standings, so the double header in the Odyssey Arena was a very big weekend for both clubs.
Following their European adventure the Giants took longer to adjust to Elite League hockey with – embarrassing results. They crashed to a 5-1 defeat to the Steelers in Fortress Odyssey in the first of back-to-back games against each other with former Giants captain, Colin Shields, getting a hat trick for the Steelers.
It was a very even game in the first period but the second and third periods saw the Sheffield outfit step it up a gear. After the second, the Steelers were firmly in the driving seat having struck three times winning the battle or races to the puck with regularity.
The Steelers’ Jonathan Phillips struck first followed by two goals from Shields making it three zip for the visitors after the second much to the disappointment of the Giants’ Odyssey Arena fans.
Suddenly in the third, the Giants thought they had found themselves, with Darryl Lloyd leading the charge scoring their only goal. Was this the start of a brilliant come back with the Steelers’ Matt Stephenson and Tom Sestito also both assessed penalties for abuse of an official?
Sestito went one better picking up a game misconduct for his efforts, which presented the Giants with a great power play opportunity. Sadly Phillips added his second of the game and the Steelers’ fourth. Then Shields tipped a shot from defensemen Drew Fata in the back of the net to end the encounter 5-1 down against Sheffield.
One bright spark from the loss was the icing of Jeff Mason after he left his Norwegian club earlier this month. Mason led the Elite League in points for a defender last season.
The Giants faced a five-point deficit if they did not reverse the result of the previous night.
As always it starts from the back. With a twenty-five shot shut-out for GB goaltender Stephen Murphy his prowess paved the way for a 3-0 Belfast victory.
This result moved the Giants to within a point of the Steelers – at the top of the league standings with three games in hand.
In another tense opening period thriller, which saw nothing between the teams with neither being able to make the breakthrough. The second period gave the Giants fans and team hope when Noah Clarke fired past John DeCaro in the Steelers net on a power play.
Giants British signing made good Coach Christiansen decision to secure the services of Matt Towe by scoring the home teams second goal and his first of the season. Finally in a neat, quick hands reverse shot by Sam Roberts Belfast made it 3-0.
That was the end of the scoring and another Stephen Murphy shut-out after the previous nights mauling by the Steelers and claiming two important league and conference points.
But sharing the two points, allowed the Nottingham Panthers to slip into top spot with three Scottish wins on the trot. Doug Christiansen had this to say after the second game: “We had to improve after the 5-1 loss to Sheffield on Friday night. I thought we had the better of the play after the opening period. In the third period being 3-0 down Darryl Lloyd certainly gave us hope to lead the way however it wasn’t to be.
After Friday we looked at ourselves and realized we hadn’t played to our strength. We had to step up our commitment so once again in the opening period I thought we had the better of the play, but again without scoring.
“I’m pleased with the win, however after Tuesday night’s game against Fife Flyers, we are away from the Odyssey Arena until near the end of November. There are big games against Coventry Blaze next week and we’ll be trying to claw back first place”.
Murphy had said this to say following the game: “It was a huge win after the devastating loss on Friday night. There was a lot a pressure on us to get the win keeping us in the hunt for first place. It showed we have a strong team with depth. Despite being early in the season it was a must win game for us after the loss Friday night. It was good as a team to see us pick ourselves up and play for each other as a cohesive unit.
“With back-to-back games it didn’t take long for us to get the loss out of our system. We bounced back the next night, which showed the spirit on the Giants team. It’s always great to get a shut-out but it is a team and our players all battled hard blocking shoots making my job that little bit easier”, concluded Murphy.
