Storm upset league leaders

Photo: Mark Ferris

Manchester Storm aided their chase for a playoff place by upsetting league leaders Belfast Giants, winning 4-3 at the Storm Shelter on Friday night in front of 2,245 fans.

It was an excellent opening period for the hosts who led by two after 20 minutes. Captain Cam Critchlow put them ahead with 5:19 played when he deflected Alexis D'Aoust's shot off a faceoff past Tom McCollum, Just over three minutes later, Ryan Hughes scored on a powerplay to put the hosts two up.

Grand Mishmash pulled one back for the Giants with 3:42 left in period two with a slapshot on the powerplay off a Mike Lee feed.

63 seconds into period three, Tylan Hinam converted Hughes' pass across the slot on a 2-on-1 to put Storm back two ahead.

The Giants had a goal washed out for the puck not crossing the goal like at 43:57, but the Giants did fight back, David Goodwin and Gabe Bast scored exactly five minutes apart to tie the game by 49:41. However, a late D'Aoust snipe into the top of McCollum's night put the Storm back ahead with 5:13 to play - the winning goal.