Steelers blank Giants to increase lead at top

Photo: William Cherry

Sheffield Steelers shut out Belfast Giants on their own ice and took a 4-0 win on Sunday afternoon in front of 6,214 fans.

The opening period was either a disaster, or could not have been planned better, depending if you were in teal or orange. Sheffield hit three unanswered goals in the opening 20 minutes to take a commanding lead at the SSE Arena. Mark Simpson scored the first with 7:06 played, taking the puck at the red line, skating into the Giants' zone and wrapping-around on Tyler Beskorowany. 

That lead was doubled three minutes later through Cole Shudra with a shot through Beskorowany's five-hole, while at 13:13 Mikko Juusola put the visitors into a 3-0 lead.

The Giants took two early penalties in period two but killed both to survive at just three behind. However, they were unable to take advantage of two minors on the Steelers in the middle period to find their way back into the game. Juusola added the Steelers' fourth with 10:08 to play which extinguished any faint hopes of a comeback by the home side.