Giants thrash Steelers to open up chance for league title on Saturday

Photo: William Cherry

Belfast Giants got the win they needed to go back clear at the top of the Viaplay Elite League with a six-goal thrashing of Sheffield Steelers on Friday night at the SSE Arena.

The Giants came flying out of the blocks and were three up after the opening 20 minutes, and in truth it could have been more.

Scott Conway gave the hosts the lead after just 30 seconds when a Steve Owre stretch pass allowed the league's leading points scorer to skate through and fire high past Matt Greenfield. The home side piled on the pressure in the early stages and went two ahead at 9:50 on the powerplay as Owre picked up a loose puck at the back post after good work from Mark Cooper.

The Steelers got a lifeline through a superb Brett Neumann back-handed finish at 11:21, but Cooper had the Giants back to ahead at 14:03. 33 seconds later, Matt Foley's powerplay marker put the Giants 4-1 up as the Steelers struggled to cope.

Sheffield started period two better but were generally restricted to shots from distance which found bodies in front or an in-form Tyler Beskorowany. After the crossbar prevented them from getting back to within two, the Steelers were 5-1 down thanks to an excellent five-hole finish from Sean Norris. Things got worse for the visitors when failing to clear their zone led to Owre making it 6-1 with 68 seconds left in period two.

Brendan Connolly pulled the score back to 6-2 early in the third, but 8:32 into the period Cooper converted on an excellent setup from Conway to get the Giants up to seven.

After an altercation that saw Sam Jones ejected for a bad hit, orris got his second of the night with a well-taken penalty shot inside the final two minutes.

The Giants could lift the league title on Saturday if they beat Manchester Storm and Guildford Flames failed to pick up two points.