WATCH: Steelers 5-2 Giants
Sheffield steel two points from friday Belfast clash
Last updated 18th Mar 2017
The Stena Line Belfast Giants fell to their first defeat in six games with a 5-2 home loss against the Sheffield Steelers on Friday. Two goals from Mathieu Roy helped the visitors to the win which sees the Steelers now one point behind the second placed Giants.
It was Roy who opened the scoring for the visitors at 4:32 with an unassisted breakaway finish while shorthanded. At 10:16, it was 2-0 when Markus Nilsson doubled the Steelers lead, assisted by Andreas Valdix and Mike Ratchuk.
The middle period was scoreless, despite the home side outshooting their opponents 20-6 with Steelers netminder Mustukovs in top form.
Jerome Leduc, assisted by Chris Higgins and Blair Riley, pulled one back for the Giants at 41:02 with a cool finish for the home side’s first goal of the game.
However Geoff Walker extended the Steelers lead at 45:51, assisted by Guillaume Desbiens and Markus Nilsson.
Mathieu Roy scored his second of the game 54 seconds after the Steelers third to give his side a three goal advantage.
James Desmarais grabbed the Giants second goal of the night at 46:45, assisted by Steve Saviano. However the home side could find a way past Mustukovs again and it was left to Guillaume Desbiens to score the empty net goal at 58:16 to seal the win for the away side.
The Giants return to action again on Saturday at home against the Coventry Blaze. Tickets are on sale now online at ticketmaster.ie as well as from The SSE Arena Box Office either in person or by calling 028 9073 9074.
Final Score Stena Line Belfast Giants 2-5 Sheffield Steelers