The Belfast Giants have been left reeling after collapsing on a crucial weekend, missing out on the opportunity to go top of the league.
Having been carried into the weekend on the crest of a wave of good form, it all came crashing down for Adam Keefe’s men this weekend with losses against Sheffield Steelers on Friday night (3-5) and Coventry Blaze on Sunday (3-2).
Having missed the opportunity to leapfrog league leaders, Cardiff Devils, the Giants remain in second place, three points behind the Welsh side but with two games in hand.
Friday evening’s game against the current treble holders, Sheffield Steelers, will leave a particularly bitter taste in the mouth for Giants fans given the loss has provided an opportunity for the rivals to re-enter the title race.
The English side have struggled to hit the lofty heights of last season’s grand slam season, but a win in Belfast may reinvigorate the squad’s title defence.
Things started well for the Giants in front of a sold out home crowd against the Steelers. Mike Lee got the Giants on the board in the first period before Grant Mismash doubled their advantage in the second.
However, it was not plain sailing for the hosts, with Sheffield bursting into life in the second half of the game and striking twice to level the game.
Things went from bad to worse when, in the third period, Sheffield completed their comeback, scoring twice more to give themselves a cushion.
Josh Roach hit back for the Giants to put them back within touching distance, but after goalie Jackson Whistle was sacrificed for an extra skater an empty netter sealed the win for the visitors.
Sheffield demonstrated their quality and, with three wins in four games against the Giants, the Belfast side will be looking over their shoulders to keep an eye on Sheffield who appear to be returning to some of their best form.
Speaking after the game, head coach Adam Keefe lamented the scoreline, giving credit to the opposition for their fightback.
“They’re a great hockey team and they won the treble last season for a reason.” Keefe said of Sheffield.
“You have to be nearly perfect and you can’t gift them a freebie like that because it gives them life and momentum.
“They are fighting to get back into the race and now they’re back in it. For us, it’s a missed opportunity.”
Despite causing a psychological blow to the confident Giants side, such losses are not always critical in the course of a long ice hockey season and there are plenty of opportunities to get back on the horse and recapture form.
Indeed, the Giants had a chance at redemption on Sunday night against Coventry Blaze however it did not go to plan once again.
Coventry got off to the perfect start, scoring twice before Adam Keefe called a timeout in the first period to address the awful start.
Whatever their head-coach said appeared to do the trick, with the Giants battling their way back into the game and drawing level with JJ Piccinich and Jeff Baum finding the net in a lively first period.
A handful of chances for both sides followed, however a fairly uneventful game saw the sides end regular time level before Coventry took the win in a penalty shoot-out.
Adam Keefe did not hide his dissatisfaction at the performance, saying after the game:
“I thought it was a really ugly hockey game. We’re lucky to get a point.
“It would have been nice to get it done in the shootout and we didn’t. Coventry earned the two points and that was not a team I recognised out there - it was really ugly hockey.”
A disappointing weekend for the men in teal, but all is not lost with plenty of hockey still to be played.
Keefe’s men will dust themselves down and turn their attention towards a double-header against the Nottingham Panthers next Friday and Saturday.
