Steelers last team standing with 100% record

Photo: Dean Woolley

Sheffield Steelers edged past Belfast Giants in a shootout to keep their 100% record this season, ending the Giants’ perfect start. That said, with a short bench, the Giant were well worth a point and could have had both.

The only goal of the opening period went to the Giants just over three minutes in. Jordan Kawaguchi’s shot got a piece of Matt Greenfield but not enough to stay out, and the Giants led at 3:23 on the powerplay. The Giants were the better side at the start of the period, but had Tom McCollum to thank for keeping them ahead as the Steelers grew into the game.

Daniel Leavens tied things up exactly six minutes into period two on the powerplay, although the Giants could have gone back ahead through a JJ Piccinich re-direct which Greenfield did excellently to keep out.

Sheffield led for the first time in the game with 7:46 played in period three thanks to Mitchell Balmas, and they could have added more were it not for McCollum keeping them at bay. Belfast pressed as the game entered the final stages and were rewarded when Elijiah Barriga swept the puck under Greenfield with 3:49 to play.

After three excellent periods, both sides took a point – but overtime was to bring more drama. Kawaguchi could have won it through on Greenfield but was denied, while the Steelers broke the other way but couldn’t convert a 2-on-1. Having made the save, McCollum played the puck to Barriga to send him clean through, but again Greenfield came out on top. Somehow, neither side won it in OT, although Robert Dowd hit a post as McCollum dived to his post.

Balmas was the Steelers’ hero in the shootout, scoring in rounds three, six and seven to earn the hosts the extra point.