Manchester Storm Continue Excellent Home Form by Defeating Belfast Giants in Playoff Push Thriller

TICKETS: Your Goodwin Group Manchester Storm welcome the Glasgow Clan on Sunday the 1st March here at Planet Ice Altrincham in Elite League action! Tickets can be ordered online, by calling 0161-926-8782, or in person at the box office. Face-off is 17:30.

Your Goodwin Group Manchester Storm outlasted the Giants 5-4 on penalty shots.

A lightning start to the game on Saturday saw Thompson jump on a loose puck and find Critchlow, who gave Storm the lead inside the first minute of the game. An inevitable fight between Gagnon and Pelech quickly ensued, and the hosts evidently took something from this.

Just 23 seconds later, the Storm were 2-0 ahead when Aulin converted from a tight angle. Things went from good to great, as Braes profited from a massive deflection to send the Storm into the first intermission three goals up.

The second period started in the same vein with Fawcett firing the puck into the top shelf. This goal signalled a goaltender change for the Giants, as Owen made way from Murphy. A response was needed from the defending champs and Hook cut the Storm advantage to three at 24:51. Another goal eventually followed, as the Northern Irish outfit wrestled their way back into the match. An excellent play involving Hook, Garside and Goodwin was rounded out by the latter, at 34:26. This 4-2 scoreline stayed until the second intermission.

The final stanza saw Belfast complete the unlikely comeback, goals from Lake and Farnham (short-handed) took the game into overtime.

Despite the additional five minutes of action the scores remained deadlocked.

However, a single penalty shot from Melton was enough to take the two points for the Storm. Man of the Match: Cam Braes (Storm) & Lewis Hook (Giants)


TICKETS: Your Goodwin Group Manchester Storm welcome the Glasgow Clan on Sunday the 1st March here at Planet Ice Altrincham in Elite League action! Tickets can be ordered online, by calling 0161-926-8782, or in person at the box office. Face-off is 17:30.