Giants get back on track with win over Sheffield

Steve Saviano celebrates scoring the winning goal for the Giants. Credit: Presseye

  • Belfast Giants 2 - 1 Sheffield Steelers

The Belfast Giants put a recent slump behind them on Saturday night, beating the visiting Sheffield Steelers 2-1 ahead of their league clash with Cup rivals Cardiff.

Head coach Adam Keefe had called for a response from his team after a run of disappointing results that ultimately scuppered their last hopes of keeping up with the title race.

And the Giants did get to work, returning back to winning ways in what was a tight game against a tough Sheffield side.

The result will boost the Belfast team ahead of that trip to Cardiff to face the Devils on Sunday - with that game also set to lay down a marker ahead of the big Challenge Cup final against their Welsh rivals next weekend.

Giants captain Blair Riley opened the scoring early on. Credit: Presseye

It took just 72 seconds for the Giants to open the scoring, with captain Blair Riley coolly scoring from an assist by Sébastien Sylvestre.

The hosts did seem to have the better of that first period, but the Steelers found their feet in the second.

Matt Marquardt provided their equaliser on the powerplay to tie up the game.

Savi in action for the Giants against the Steelers at the SSE Arena. Credit: Presseye

But nice work by Steve Saviano in the third period saw him fire the game-winning goal past Ervins Mustukovs in the Sheffield net.

Meanwhile, Giants goaltender Jackson Whistle also held strong to keep the visitors at bay and the Giants took the two points.