The Stena Line Belfast Giants lost out to the Manchester Storm 3-2 after a shootout on Friday night in the first of back-to-back games at The SSE Arena this weekend.
Despite goals from Kendall McFaull and Darcy Murphy, the Giants lost out to the Storm with Ciaran Long and Riley Stadel scoring penalty shots for Manchester after the game was tied 2-2 following 60 minutes of regulation and overtime.
Tyler Beskorowany started in the Belfast net as Pat Dwyer and Jonathan Boxill returned to the lineup with Hunter Bishop, Colin Shields, Paul Swindlehurst, Guillaume Gelinas, Matt Towe and Andrew Dickson missing for the Giants.
Manchester Storm To Early Lead
The opening period was an even affair as both sides started the game well. The opening goal came as 8:52 as Dane Byers, assisted by Luke Moffatt, saw his fierce wrist shot fly into the Giants net.
Belfast Battle Back
The Giants fought back in the middle period and they grabbed their equaliser early on as Darcy Murphy fired home at 20:44, assisted by David Rutherford
The game turned into a feisty contest and the 26:47 mark saw Curtis Leonard, Pat Dwyer and Kyle Baun all drop the gloves with Manchester’s Harrison Ruopp, Luke Moffatt and Declan Balmer.
Storm And Giants Trade Final Period Blows
Manchester snatched another go-ahead goal at 43:16 when Shane Bakker slotted home right in front of the Giants net from Logan McMillan’s rebound.
Kendall McFaull’s impressive strike from the blueline at 49:17, assisted by Jonathan Ferland, brought the Giants level again.
Storm Take Extra Point In Shootout
The Giants and Storm cancelled each other out during overtime with Ciaran Long and Riley Stadel scoring the winning shots for Manchester in the shootout.
Final Score
Stena Line Belfast Giants 2-3 Manchester Storm (After Penalty Shots)
Giants Man of the Match
#27 Kendall McFaull
Next Up?
The Giants and Storm return to the ice almost immediately as both sides go toe-to-toe again on Saturday in Belfast, face-off 7pm.
Tickets are available from the Arena Box Office all day Saturday, in person or by calling (028) 9073 9074 as well as online from ticketmaster.ie.
Belfast Giants vs Manchester Storm
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