Giants respond to split weekend series with Steelers

Photo: Dean Woolley

Belfast Giants responded to a 2-1 defeat in Sheffield on Saturday night by beating the Steelers 3-2 on Sunday afternoon to split the series over the weekend double-header. 

The visitors led by two after the opening period thanks to a pair of goals inside the final two minutes of the period. With 69 seconds to play before the buzzer, Colby McAuley sped down the left wing and then beat Matt Greenfield from almost behind the goalline to put the Giants ahead. 52 seconds later, Scott Conway was left open in the high slot to fire past Greenfield and make it 2-0 after some sustained Giants pressure.

Exactly two minutes into the middle period, David Goodwin beat Greenfield thanks to a deflection off a defenseman 34 seconds after the Steelers had been called for a Too Many Men.

The home side rallied and had cut the deficit down to just a goal by the 35-minute mark. Brandon McNally made it 1-3 on a Steelers powerplay at 26:56, followed by Brett Neumann at 34:27 to make it a one-goal game. Jackson Whistle pulled off a couple of excellent saves before the period was over to keep the Giants ahead. 

The visitors' netminder stopped all 16 shots fired at him in the third period to backstop Adam Keefe's short-benched side to an important road victory.