Stingrays storm back to earn deserved point at Belfast

Sylvain Cloutier's team came from behind twice against the Elite League leaders, but had raced into an early lead through man-of-the-match Jason Silverthorn, who scored his fourth goal of the season at 3.16 on the powerplay.

Josh Prudden levelled two seconds before the end of the first period before Craig Peacock edged the home side ahead at 23.19. Jereme Tendler levelled for Hull four minutes later with his fifth goal in three games, but Belfast were able to take a two-goal lead into the third after powerplay strikes from Jon Gleed and Brett Hemingway.

Stingrays made it a one-goal game two minutes into the third through Matti Uusivirta's powerplay strike and were then handed a chance to tie the game when Giants' defenceman Tim Cook was penalised for interference with referee Dean Smith awarding a penalty shot.

Silverthorn was unable to convert as netminder Stephen Murphy saved but the former Cardiff Devils forward redeemed himself in the 48th minute when he scored with yet another powerplay marker, with Hemingway on the sidelines for slashing.

The match went into overtime and, after Stingrays were called for too many men on the ice, Welch secured the extra point for Belfast to extend their lead over Nottingham Panthers at the top of the table to seven points, although Corey Neilson's men do have three gamews in hand.

While Belfast were again skating short due to injury, Stingrays own injury problems deepened at the Odyssey when British forward Lee Esders was forced off with a medial collateral ligament injury which could rule him out for two months.

He joins fellow British forwards Lee Mitchell (knee) and Ryan Lake (thumb) on the sidelines, along with defenceman Craig Mitchell (broken arm).

"It was disappointing not to get the two points but the guys battled back to tie it up in the third," said Cloutier afterwards.

"I thought it was a questionable call at the end there but it happens, that's the way it goes sometimes.

"But this was a big point for us. Belfast may be missing a few guys but so are we and we lost Ezzie too which left us with eight forwards."

Sheffield Steelers' player-coach Ben Simon is hoping to put further distance between his team and Nottingham Panthers in the Challenge Cup with the rivals playing each other twice in three days.

Steelers visit the NIC on Wednesday night before the Panthers head to Sheffield Arena on Friday (7.30pm) in a Group B double header.

Simon, who is hoping to have forward Rob Globke and defenceman Jerramie Domish back on the ice, engineered a 4-1 league victory for Steelers in Nottingham earlier this month.

"We saw what a win against the Panthers meant to the organisation and the fans. I want that experience again and again," he said.

"With Nottingham having four games in hand on us in our group these two games are huge for us. Our focus has to be on two wins and nothing less."