VIDEO: Steelers flying after first weekend double

Pick of the two days was Sunday night’s come-from-behind 2-1 win against current leaders Belfast Giants at the Motorpoint Arena.

It was the visitors who struck first with a shorthanded goal from Darryl Lloyd at 4.03, although the hosts were back on level terms before the first break when Stefan Meyer fired past Stephen Murphy at 16.44.

A goalless second period followed, with Steelers only keeping it tight at their end thanks to goalie Frank Doyle making penalty shot saves from Jeff Szwez and Gareth Roberts.

In a similarly tight third period, however, the deadlock was eventually broken when Jason Hewitt set up Jonathan Phillips to score the winner off a deflection.

Last night’s win followed an equally profitable night for the Steelers in Scotland on Saturday when goals from Rob Sirianni (2), Steven Goertzen and Drew Fata earned a deserved 4-1 win.

“Sunday was a game between two good team,” said Steelers head coach Doug Christiansen after getting a first win over his former club after ending up on the losing side in Northern Ireland two weeks ago.

“We both shut each other down really well. There is no doubt in my mind that Belfast are a team that we are going to have to beat if we are going to accomplish our goals this year, hopefully they feel the same way about us.

“I thought the guys dug deep. There is no question in mind about that – Frank Doyle with his two penalty shot saves, Steven Goertzen, the captain of your hockey club blocking a shot, clearing the puck and coming back to the bench doubled over before then going back out there.

“That’s what it takes to win in this league.”

To watch brief highlights of Steelers’ 2-1 victory over Belfast hit the PLAY button at the top of the story

Hull Stingrays lost out 5-4 after a shoot-out at home to Gardiner Conference rivals Dundee Stars – their third defeat by the odd goal to the Scottish club this season.

Nico Sacchetti was the only one of the six shooters to be successful to earn the visitors the extra point as Stingrays fell to a sixth home loss this season.

The Stars had gone 2-0 ahead through a fourth-minute short-handed strike by Jerry Pollastrone and a 10th-minute powerplay goal from Nikita Kashkirsky.

But, on the powerplay, player-coach Sylvain Cloutier halved the deficit within a minute of Dundee’s second before the home side again made the most of the man advantage to level proceedings at 25.05 through Jason Silverthorn,

Just under four minutes later Jereme Tendler put the Stingrays in front, only for Mike Wirll to haul the visitors level three minutes into the third.

Tendler’s 12th of the season followed to put Hull in front for a second time but, after Kashirsky also grabbed his second no more goals followed, leaving Hull to continue the shoot-out misery that proved so costly to their play-off hopes last season.