Sheffield Steelers 3-1 Belfast Giants

Steelers missing Steve Duncombe, Giants missing Jason Bowen.

4028 saw Sheffield overcome a confident Belfast side as they shut the door in the final period with goalie Christian Bronsard in fine form. They need 3 more wins to clinch the league title with 8 games remaining.

Sheffield created the better chances throughout the first period but could make nothing of the first powerplay 8 minutes in, Colin Ryder making just one save from Darling. Jason Ruff muscled his way to the left wing and Bronsard pulled a sharp stick save on 12 minutes. But Sheffield went down the other end and Darling arrived in front of the left post to drill home (12:36) after a scramble saw Adams shot squirm under the keeper but wide.

Both sides then ran into penalty trouble taking two minors a-piece in a 2 minute spell, but chances were few and far between. Bolibruk forced a save.

Late in the period Jamieson fired in from the left point. Kenny was next to force a stop firing in from the right but Ellis overturned Jamieson and raced away down the right to find Ryder's blocker. After the first period ended Joel Irving and Leigh Jamieson clashed for double roughing minors each.

Belfast took the game to Sheffield throughout the second period. Kelman, Bowen and Kenny forced saves in a 40 second spell. A minute later Mark Finney's left wing shot hit the inside of the near post and bounced out across the the face of goal, but Paxton Schulte took a tripping penalty behind the play. From the resulting face-off on the right, Bolibruck skated inside and netted high glove side (25:11).

Kenny forced a save, then a bullet from Schulte was padded to Johnson but Bronsard blanked the defenceman.

With Peron sitting a minor Ruff, Kelman and Schulte all worked Bronsard but the keeper stood tall.

Back at even strength Bobyck got behind the Belfast net and found Anderson arriving in space 10 feet out and he netted low across Ryder (35:15).

Giants kept pressing and Schulte forced another save. Bowen fed Johnson on the left and his shot beat Bronsard inside the near post (37:52). Inside the final minute of the period Bronsard padded away a Ward rocket from the right then Dutiaume got away, went across the front of the goal but Ryder's poke check cleared the danger.

Sheffield kept it tight throughout the final period. Bobyck fired straight at the prostrate Ryder 43 seconds after the restart. Six minutes later a double save denied Schulte and Kelman.

With 10 minutes left Kelman fired in and Giants drove the net but Bronsard was immense. Ruff and Johnson both had chances before Irving broke through, but Ryder blanked his shot.

With 98 seconds left Giants lifted their keeper, but never really looked like scoring.