[Kilsally]

Giants Fail in Sheffield
Dec 8 2003
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Sheffield 3 Belfast 2




THE Belfast Giants lost a heartbreaker to the Sheffield Steelers last night and in doing so toppled out of first place in the Elite League.

Brent Bobyck's slap shot with just 2:44 of the game remaining beat Colin Ryder to give the Steelers the points as they drew level with the Giants but both teams now trail the Nottingham Panthers by two points.

As usual when these two sides meet it was an intense battle that boiled over early in the first period with a fight between Paxton Schulte and Dion Darling that saw both players get tossed from the game.

"It would be nice to have a cushion at the top but we don't have that anymore. So it's now time to buckle down and get the results we need," said a disappointed coach Rob Stewart afterwards.

Stewart added, "You can't expect to win all your games on the road. It's at home where it matters. We'll be sitting down this week to assess the situation and give ourselves goals.

"We need to look after ourselves. I know I have the guys that can do it and in a tight league like this you have to win your home."

The first period was fast and furious, with big hit after big hit was delivered until at 6:53 Paxton Schulte decided to do something about it.

A scrum began behind the Giants goal and Schulte singled out Steelers defenceman Dion Darling. They went toetotoe in a Super Heavyweight contest and both players were thrown out of the game.

More niggling penalties greeted the start of the middle session but it was the Giants who capitalised at 22:16.

Colin Ward stepped out of the box at halfway, received the puck from Jason Ruff and sped in on Steelers goalie Rob Dopson, slipping the puck under him with the backhand shot.

The lead didn't last long however. Skating four a side Marc Lefebvre equalised just over two minutes later, the puck squeezing in at the near post.

Discipline once again deserted the Giants and penalty calls on Ruff and Sean Berens led to a 5-on-3 for the Steelers of almost a minute and a half but it was superbly killed by the Giants. Would that be a turning point?

Mark Dutiaume said no just seconds later at 30:23 and he drove down the middle of the ice, victimising Walton on the way, to score the go ahead goal.

The Steelers forward has beaten more experienced defencemen than the young Belfast player. On this occasion Walton learnt the hard way because he was having another strong game.

The equalising goal for the Giants came on the powerplay at 42:02 when Todd Kelman put the puck into the unguarded net.

It looked like it would be enough to steel a point. In the end Brent Bobyck decided it wasn't.

"These are great games on the road when you win them. Good teams limit their mistakes but we have been giving up far too many chances and it's frustrating to watch.

"You can never get mad at the work ethic but sometimes these players need to realise they are playing for long periods with a short bench and they need to do the simple things," explained Stewart.


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Alan
Northern Ireland, UK

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