Szwez triple downs Steelers: Match Report

Saturday 1st Febuary 2014 - Belfast Giants (29-5-2) v Sheffield Steelers (21-11-3) @ Odyssey Arena. Face off: 7pm

A Jeffrey Szwez hat trick and an outstanding performance by Stephen Murhpy helped the league leader to 4-2 victory over the Steelers.

Game one of the Belfast double header got underway and it was the first possible start for the Steelers when Giants had won the opening face-off and was able to skate through almost unchallenged and Jeffrey Szwez was able to slot the opening goal past Doyle after just 13 seconds. Sheffield wasn't behind for long when it only took them till 1:42 after Hewitt had played in Dowd who had seen his shot rebounded  out only for Jonathan Phillips to tap in at close range to level the score. Belfast had two power play opportunities in the he first period but find the on form Frank Doyle denying their goal scoring opportunities at every chance including some great defence by Sheffield to deny Adam Keefe on the breakaway and then Belfast's Higgins had beaten Doyle with the goaltender on the ice but could only manage to put his shot wide and then on 14:40 Szwez came from behind the goal line to shoot on goal and would but his effort in past Doyle of the skate of Dustin Kohn to give the Giants a 2-1 lead. Sheffield would be kicking themselves with the clock ticking down Jason Hewitt managed to get a shot away only to see his shot rebound out to Lacroix but him like Higgins could only put wide of an open goal, Belfast would take a 2-1 lead going into the 1st intermission.

In a goalless second period it turned out to be a period just about the goaltenders when Sheffield had three separate power play chances giving one up to Belfast and that would also include two minutes of 4 on 4 hockey but neither team could find a way to add to the scoreline but the best opportunities probably fell to DiCasmirro after great work by captain Goertzen to get I to the zone but Nate could only tip his shot wide and that was followed by Craig Peacock who is well known for his goal scoring being denied by the defending of Mark Thomas who had the puck knocked right of the end of his stick. Murphy and Doyle were both called upon several times in a period where Sheffield were massively out shooting the league leaders.

The period starting with a high tempo as Lacroix saw his shot saved twice by Murphy as Cheverie and Szwez shoot wide of the goal then on 47:30 a shot came out to Keefe who was right in front of goal when he fired a slap shot high over Doyle to give the Giants a 3-1 lead. It wasn't long till Belfast were celebrating again with the Giants on the power play Szwez received the puck to the left of the goal off Elfring and shot on goal where it looked like Doyle had covered it up on the goal line but it must have just gone over the line as Darnell gave it as a fourth goal to Belfast and Jeffrey Szwez's hat trick. Sheffield got straight back on it themselves on a power play of their own Legue skated behind the goal to pass to. Langlais who was in front of goal and then he layed of Dowd and fired a slap shot past Murphy who had no chance to score Sheffield's second goal. Sheffield had a 5 on 3 opportunity also pulled Doyle for the last 1:45 but a game that was largely controlled by the Steeler just couldn't figure Stephen Murphy out as Belfast went on to win 4-2.

FINAL SCORE: Belfast Giants 4-2 Sheffield Steelers

Boxscore (1st-2nd-3rd-OT-[PIM]-{PP}-S)
Belfast    - 2-0-2-0-[16]-{1/6}-24

Sheffield - 1-0-1-0-[37]-{1/7}-48

Belfast Man of the Match: #12 Jeffrey Szwez
Sheffield Man of the Match: #75 Robert Dowd

Belfast improve to 30-5-2 and Sheffield take on Belfast again the next day with Sheffield looking to take at least two points home from the double header.

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