Finnerty stays positive after Giants weekend

There will be little chance of rest ahead of Wendesday night’s Challenge Cup encounter with Coventry Blaze (7.30pm) for Finnerty’s team. But they can be pleased with their overall showing in Northern Ireland, their defeat coming 24 hours after a stunning 5-1 triumph over the defending champions.

Despite enjoying the better chances in Saturday’s first period, a failure to take at least one of them came back to haunt them, particularly when the Giants went ahead on the powerplay at 25.01 through Noah Clarke.

It was not until 46.12 that a determined Belfast doubled their lead, though, Matt Towe grabbing his first of the season before Sam Roberts made it 3-0 two minutes later and ended any hope Steelers had of repeating the previous night’s heroics.

“We had our chances to win that game, particularly in the first period,” said Finnerty.

“But we lost to a good hockey club on Saturday, make no mistake about that. They were always going to come out hard, even more so after we beat them the previous night.

“But you can’t dwell on things too much because we are straight into another game. I doubt any team will go into Belfast and come away with two wins this season.

“We’ve done well against them so far this season and beaten them three times out of four.”

Hull Stingrays recorded back-to-back wins in the league for the first time this season, coming from two goals down at home to beat Gardiner Conference rivals Fife Flyers 5-4.

The home team found themselves 2-0 down after just seven minutes through Todd Dutiaume’s double. Janis Ozolins halved the deficit with his 10th of the season, but Steve Gunn restored the visitors’ two-goal lead at 18.02.

Hull hit back in the middle session, with Jereme Tendler making it 3-2 at 26.06, before Dominic Osman pounced to level on the powerplay at 35.04.

Tendler scored a short-handed marker at 40.06 to put Hull in front for the first time, only for Casey Haines to drag the Scottish side level at 55.55.

But player-coach Sylvain Cloutier was the man who came up with the game-winner less than a minute later, sealing both points.

Sheffield Steeldogs endured further misery in the English Premier League, losing 1-0 at Milton Keynes before going down 7-3 at home to Guildford Flames.