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Szwez makes winning return
Photograph of Belfast Giants Jeff Szwez courtsey of Colin Lawson of Vipers Media: www.vipersmedia.smugmug.com.
Last Saturday evening saw the LBM Belfast Giants take on the Sheffield Steelers at the Odyssey Arena. With Pierre-Luc Faubert and Sean ‘The Sheriff’ McMorrow out of the lineup, Jeff Szwez made his return after a hand injury. Sheffield came into the game having lost their last 6 games, and started with their backup netminder, Dan Green, between the pipes.
The Steelers were quick off the mark in the first, making their way to the Giants net off the faceoff. The Giants then returned the offense, with Brandon Benedict narrowly missing the net. In the first 10 minutes, the Giants’ defence were repeatedly pulled out of trouble by netminder, Stephen Murphy, who saved everything that came his way.
The Giants were the first to find the net, with Craig Peacock, at 13:36. A takeaway in the Steelers’ zone left George Awada open on the wing for a pass from Kevin Phillips. Phillips found Peacock at the top of the circle, leaving a shooting lane for a wrist shot, finding the net just inside the post.
The Steelers were quick to pull the game back, less than 2 minutes later, as Jeff Legue skated onto a pass from Robert Farmer, roofing the puck past Stephen Murphy, at 15:33. This left the period at 1-1.
The second period brought misfortune for the Giants, as Jeff Szwez picked up a 2+2 high sticking penalty, leaving the team shorthanded. The Giants managed to blow a hole in the Steelers’ powerplay unit, as Pat Bateman picked up a shorthanded goal, at 22:14. A turnover on the Giants’ blue line gave Bateman a breakaway. Deking his way past Dan Green, to backhand the puck past his pad.
The Giants managed to pick up powerplays one after the other, starting with a 5-on-3 as Brad Cruickshank and Doug Sheppard picked up penalties for hooking and holding respectively. The Giants managed to cycle the puck in the Steelers’ zone, but had severe problems shooting the puck.
The Giants soon had another powerplay as the Steelers picked up a bench penalty for too many men. This was soon added to, as Jason Hewitt visited the box for hooking, leaving the play 5-on-3 for the Giants. This opened an opportunity for another goal. A point to point pass from Colin Shields to Michael Jacobsen left a shooting lane open. A low slapshot from Jacobsen left a rebound chance for Szwez who fired the puck home for a powerplay goal, at 30:54.
Moray Hanson then had a go at evening up the penalties, as Shane Johnson found himself in the box for interference, soon to be followed by Pat Bateman for tripping. The Steelers managed to find their way to the net, with a pass behind the net from Doug Sheppard to Jeff Legue left Joey Talbot open in front of the net for a pass from Legue. This left Stephen Murphy out of position, leaving an easy shot for Talbot, at 34:30. This left the period 3-2 in the Giants favour.
The Giants opened the third period on the powerplay, as Kevin Bolibruk went to the box for hooking. The Giants played the puck around the Steelers’ zone, with no shots on goal. Just after the powerplay, a nice drop pass from Szwez going into the Steelers’ zone left Benedict the puck for a shot, which was saved by Dan Green.
The Giants then went on the penalty kill, as Steve Thornton went to the box for hooking. The Steelers’ powerplay seemed non-existent, as the play continued end-to-end.
The Odyssey Arena crowd were on the edge of their seats, as Kevin Phillips and Joey Talbot dropped their gloves, but were quickly held back by the officials. They both picked up penalties, Phillips for slashing and Talbot for roughing. This left the play 4-on-4, with the Giants controlling the play in the Steelers’ zone, getting a few shots on goal.
George Awada then picked up a 2+2 penalty for roughing, after a tussle with Robert Farmer in front of the Steelers’ bench, with Farmer also picking up a 2 minute roughing penalty. The Steelers’ added to the penalties, as Matt Hubbauer picked up a hooking penalty, leaving the play 4-on-4.
The final 5 minutes of the game were very tense, with both teams eager for another goal. Unfortunately this didn’t happen, with the game finishing 3-2 in favour of the Giants. Pat Bateman picked up the Giants’ man of the match, while Dan Green picked up the Steelers’.
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| 11th February 2012 19:00 | ||
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| 11th February 2012 19:00 | ||
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| 11th February 2012 19:00 | ||
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| 11th February 2012 19:15 | ||
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| 12th February 2012 00:00 | ||
6-2 |
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| 5th February 2012 18:30 | ||
4-5 |
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| 5th February 2012 18:00 | ||
2-4 |
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| 5th February 2012 17:00 | ||
6-1 |
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| 4th February 2012 19:30 | ||
4-1 |
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| 4th February 2012 19:00 | ||
6-2 |
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| 4th February 2012 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belfast Giants | 41 | 33 | 8 | 3 | 167 | 83 | 69 |
| 2 | Nottingham Panthers | 40 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 182 | 87 | 62 |
| 3 | Sheffield Steelers | 35 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 133 | 77 | 60 |
| 4 | Coventry Blaze | 40 | 25 | 15 | 1 | 153 | 113 | 51 |
| 5 | Cardiff Devils | 39 | 20 | 19 | 10 | 124 | 112 | 50 |
| 6 | Braehead Clan | 39 | 22 | 17 | 2 | 146 | 127 | 46 |
| 7 | Hull Stingrays | 41 | 11 | 30 | 4 | 107 | 165 | 26 |
| 8 | Edinburgh Capitals | 38 | 11 | 27 | 3 | 89 | 170 | 25 |
| 9 | Dundee Stars | 40 | 7 | 33 | 5 | 95 | 163 | 19 |
| 10 | Fife Flyers | 39 | 7 | 32 | 5 | 79 | 178 | 19 |
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| 8th February 2012 19:45 | ||
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| 11th February 2012 17:45 | ||
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| 11th February 2012 18:00 | ||
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| 11th February 2012 18:30 | ||
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| 11th February 2012 19:00 | ||
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| 11th February 2012 19:00 | ||
3-0 |
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| 5th February 2012 18:30 | ||
4-2 |
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| 5th February 2012 18:00 | ||
6-3 |
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| 5th February 2012 17:30 | ||
6-8 |
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| 5th February 2012 17:30 | ||
3-0 |
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| 4th February 2012 19:30 | ||
1-3 |
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| 4th February 2012 19:00 | ||
| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guildford Flames | 38 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 172 | 111 | 55 |
| 2 | Manchester Phoenix | 39 | 24 | 15 | 3 | 145 | 123 | 51 |
| 3 | Slough Jets | 37 | 24 | 13 | 2 | 167 | 117 | 50 |
| 4 | Sheffield Steeldogs | 38 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 119 | 101 | 48 |
| 5 | Milton Keynes Lightning | 37 | 22 | 15 | 1 | 116 | 99 | 45 |
| 6 | Basingstoke Bison | 38 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 135 | 126 | 44 |
| 7 | Swindon Wildcats | 39 | 15 | 24 | 5 | 126 | 134 | 35 |
| 8 | Bracknell Bees | 37 | 13 | 24 | 8 | 107 | 142 | 34 |
| 9 | Peterborough Phantoms | 38 | 14 | 24 | 2 | 123 | 164 | 30 |
| 10 | Telford Tigers | 39 | 9 | 30 | 2 | 106 | 199 | 20 |
- Challenge Cup Final dates confirmed
- Giants see off Devils to make final
- Murphy ready for Devils visit
- Giants sign Hoffman at the deadline
- Walton hits 500 Games
