The Giants kept their title hopes alive with a much needed win that came in over time against the Steeelers. Kevin Riehl was the hero of the hour when his goal, one minute into overtime won the game for the Giants. It was a superb game with an electric atmosphere which seen the Giants get a fantastic start and go two goals up before the Steelers pulled one back.

In the second period the Steelers came more into the game but it was the Giants who got the goal to give themselves a two goal lead again. The Steelers fought back and grabbed a goal before getting another in the third period to send it to overtime.

Doug Macdonald, Steve Thornton, Kevin Riehl and Rod Stevens really stood out for the Giants with Macdonald getting a goal and assist on the night to match what he got last night. Steve Thornton picked up two assists and Stevens broke a goal drought by grabbing a second period goal.

It was Riehl though that stole the show with his overtime goal that send the noisy Giants crowd wild.

The Giants are now only three points behind the Steelers with a game in hand and two behind the Panthers who where stuffed by London tonight, 8-3, also with a game in hand on them. Its looking good for the Giants but they must win their remaining games and hope the Steelers loose somewhere along the way, but with the pressure on the Steelers I wouldn’t count against it.

Belfast Giants 4-3 Sheffield Steelers

Giants: Johnson 4:38, Macdonald 6:32, Stevens 25:41, Riehl 61:11.
Steelers: Sessa 11:18, Sessa 39:37, Brebant 48:36.
Att. 5,900 (Odyssey Arena, Belfast).

Forward Lines
Thornton – Macdonald – Stevens
Kruse – Karlander – Matsos
Schulte – Riehl – Ward

It was a pretty scrappy game all round and no real flow got going though the goals did come early when the Giants had captain Paul Kruse go to the penalty box and the Steelers score straight away on the powerplay to make it 1-0. The Giants kept at it and gained a 5 on 3 powerplay which they took full advantage of with some nice passing before the puck arrived at Kevin Riehl on the left circle and he hit the shot into the net.

Kruse ended up in the penalty box again but this time it came to nothing. At the end of the first it was tied at 1-1. The second was again a slow period giving the impression that neither team wanted to give anything away and where reluctant to break away, although the Giants did make it 2-1 towards the end of the second with a goal from Doug Macdonald who tapped in the rebound from a Robby Sandrock slap shot.

Just as the period was nearing an end and looking like the Giants would take a goal lead into the break the Steelers struck and a shot that got under Bach trickled into the back of the net just as the hooter sounded. It was a tough one to take but the game was 2-2 going into the third. The third was pretty even with the Giants probably having the better of the chances but in the end it finished 2-2 after overtime with a draw being the fair result.

It sets up a great game tomorrow night with the Giants needing a win to stay in contention for the league title race.

Belfast Giants 2-2 Sheffield Steelers

Giants: Riehl 10:15, MacDonald 38:29.
Steelers: Darling 4:36, Levins 39:59. 
Att. 2,720 (Odyssey Arena, Belfast).

Forward Lines
Thornton – MacDonald – Stevens
Kruse – Karlander – Matsos
Schulte – Riehl – Ward