Steelers’ title hopes fade with Belfast defeats

A 4-3 win in Belfast last night came 24 hours after a 4-2 home success to extend the Giants’ record to just one defeat in their last 18 matches.

As for Sheffield this was a huge setback after having won their last three league games.

The home side got off to a perfect start on Saturday night as with only 13 seconds on the clock Jeffery Szwez put them in front.

The Steelers were quickly back on level terms as Jonathan Philips netted at 1.42. However that man Szwez was on target for a second time at 14.40 to give the hosts a one goal lead at the end of the first period.

Despite Sheffield out shooting the Giants 18-8 in the second period they were unable to find a way past Murphy.

The Giants themselves failed to find the net and the period ended goalless for the home side to hold onto their one goal lead. The Giants increased their lead at 47.30 as Adam Keffe was on target. Just over three minute later the hosts wrapped up the points as Szwez completed his hat trick with a powerplay goal.

Steelers got one back 26 seconds later as Robert Dowd scored on the powerplay but that was as close as they were to get. At 55.57 Jeff League picked up a 5 plus game for spearing.

Sheffield, who have a game in hand, now trail Belfast by a massive 19 points.

Hull Stingrays lost 2-1 at Cardiff Devils last night after a penalty shootout, following on from a 4-1 victory over Fife Flyers on Saturday.

Two goals apiece from Guillaume Doucet and Jereme Tendler helped secure the win at Hull Arena.

It was a seventh successive home Gardiner Conference triumph for Stingrays, who remain top of the standings.

After a scoreless first period, Doucet put Stingrays ahead 69 seconds into the middle session on the powerplay for his 38th goal of the season.

Ned Lukacevic levelled for Flyers at 25.45 but Doucet’s second with just 51 seconds remaining in the period put Stingrays back in front.

Stingrays then wrapped up victory over Fife with two late short-handed empty-net goals from Tendler.

The first came at 58.47 after Flyers had pulled goaltender Kevin Regan following a Stingrays penalty for a six-on-four advantage and Tendler struck again one second from time.