Giants survive Storm fightback to take OT win

Photo: Mark Ferris

An Adam Brady hat trick and four straight third period goals earned Manchester Storm a point with an excellent comeback against Belfast, but the Giants stayed four points clear at the top of the league thanks to an overtime winner at the Storm Shelter.

Brady opened the scoring 4:35 in on the powerplay, but his Storm side went into the first intermission behind thanks to Giants goals from Sam Ruopp and Ciaran Long just under four minutes apart. 

1:34 into period two, Slater Doggett pounced on a fortunate bounce in front to make it 3-1 to the visitors, while 68 seconds later Lewis Hook dug the puck out from slightly behind him to fire past Jason Bacashihua for the Giants' fourth. When Long added his second of the night at 36:23, the Giants led 5-1 and looked to be out of sight.

Brady brought the Storm back to within three 2:34 into period three on a powerplay and delayed penalty with a nice a diving play to bat the puck home. Cam Critchlow put home into an empty cage after great work from Tayler Thompson turned the puck over and forced Jackson Whistle into an excellent initial save.Brady's hat trick goal came at 48:18 on the powerplay with a well-placed wrist shot from inside the circle, and three minutes later Linden Springer brought the Storm level to cap an incredible comeback. 

The Storm had the better of the chances to win things in regulation, but both sides too ka point tied through 60 minutes.

Belfast won the game 1:35 into overtime thanks to an excellent Kevin Raine stretch pass that sent Mark Cooper through 1-on-0 to beat Bacashihua with a smart finish. Belfast end the week Challenge Cup champions and with four points from their pair of league games.