Storm take important home win

Photo: Mark Ferris

Manchester Storm surrendered a four-goal lead before beating Belfast in a shootout in front of more than 2000 people at the Storm Shelter.

Manchester took the lead inside the opening minute. Belfast goalie Shane Owen got caught behind the net with the puck and was robbed of it by Cody Thompson, and he found Cam Critchlow out in front for the finish. Jared Aulin capitalised on Frankie Melton’s feed to make it two at 4:48 before Cam Braes put the hosts three up at 14:24 on the powerplay.

75 seconds into period two Fawcett fired home from the slot to make it 4-0, a goal which saw Adam Keefe call a timeout for the Giants’ and put Stephen Murphy into the net. Belfast got on the board through Lewis Hook at 24:51, and just over five minutes before the break pulled things back to a two-goal game thanks to David Goodwin.

Ben Lake got the Giants back to within one with 9:17 left to play, and the Giants would go on to tie the game shorthanded. With Manchester set up for the powerplay Curtis Hamilton turned the puck over and set Bobby Farnham away for a breakaway goal.

Each team had their chances during the 3-on-3 overtime but with no winner found the game headed to penalty shots. Matt Ginn stopped all five of the Giants' attempts with Frankie Melton's lone strike to earn Manchester their third home shootout win in a row.

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