Ice Hockey: Belfast Giants lose to Steelers
Thursday, 17 October 2002 09:20Sheffield Steelers extended their 100% home record to eight with a 3-2 victory over defending Superleague champions Belfast Giants - their third victory over the Giants this season. Kory Karlander fired the visitors ahead at 8.10 after the Steelers turned over the puck in their own zone.
The hosts went ahead on the powerplay when Jeff Brown drilled home from the top of the left face-off circle as Karlander's diving penalty proved costly. Kent Simpson doubled the advantage early in the second session when he squeezed a shot through Bach's pads to seal the two points for the rampant Steelers.
Belfast applied intense pressure in the final period and they were rewarded when Joel Laing produced a number of stunning saves before Doug MacDonald capitalised on a loose puck to get Belfast back into the game after the league's top netminder had turned away Robby Sandrock's shot.
Despite continuing to pepper the Sheffield net with shot after shot and pulling Bach for the final 40 seconds in favour of an extra skater, Belfast just could not find another way past the impressive Laing and the points went to the Steelers.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
