Giants one win from league title

Photo: Dean Woolley

Belfast Giants are now just one win away from lifting the 2021/22 Premier Sports Elite League title after a 3-1 road win against fellow contenders Sheffield Steelers on Saturday night.

Two goals inside the opening nine minutes silenced the vast majority of the 7647-strong crowd at the Utilita Arena as the Giants took control of the game.

 Mark Cooper gave the Giants the lead 6:33 into things on the powerplay with a slot from the slot that found its way through. Just over two minutes later, the league's top line of JJ Piccinich, David Goodwin and Scott Conway combined for Piccinich to double the visitors' lead at 8:41 - Conway broke up ice after a turnover, and played it to Goodwin who fed Piccinich for the back-post finish.

Exactly eight minutes into period two, Piccinich pounced on a rebound from Conway's shot to put the Giants three ahead. 

Sheffield had a goal back 3:06 into period three through Tanner Eberle, but Tyler Beskorowany stopped 21 shots on the night to backstop his team to the 3-1 win.

The two sides meet again on Sunday afternoon live on Premier Sports - any win for the Giants will see them crowned league champions.