Belfast Giants 1 Sheffield Steelers 2 after shootout

A very tight low scoring encounter to open the season in Belfast with the visiting Steelers taking the extra point thanks to a shootout win, with Mike Ramsay claiming the winning shot.

Steelers took little time to settle and given a powerplay opportunity when Giants’ Derek LeBlanc was binned for holding, the man advantage paid off resulting in Matt Stevenson firing home on the powerplay at 4.15.

From that point on it was defence on top with Stephen Murphy and John DeCaro performing well between the respective pipes. Giants had no fewer than six powerplay chances before the end of the second period but failed to make them count but finally they grabbed the game tying goal at 50.29 when young Scots star Mark Garside was on hand to shoot and score – and take the game into overtime.

No scoring during the extra five minutes but in the shootout both Ramsay and Steve Birnstill scored with their penalty shots to give rookie player/coach Ryan Finnerty his first win.

Period Scores: 0-1, 0-0, 1-0, 0-0, 0-1 (0-2)
Penalty Mins: Bel 8 – She 14
Powerplay: Bel 0/7 – She 1/4
Shots On: Stephen Murphy 26 – John DeCaro 30

Referee: Moray Hanson
Linesman : Andy Dalton
Linesman : Scott Dalgleish