TICKETS: Your Go Goodwin’s Manchester Storm are back in home action on Monday 26th Dec, when we take on the Dundee Stars (5:30pm) here at the Storm Shelter! Tickets for both games can be ordered online or by calling the box office on 0161 926 8782, or in person at the box office.

Your Go Goodwins sponsored Manchester Storm are back in Challenge Cup action this evening as they take on the Belfast Giants at the SSE Arena, facing off at 7 pm.

It’s all to play for in the second leg of the Challenge Cup quarter final, after last week’s matchup ended 3-3 after regulation in a game that swung one way to the other as both teams grappled for the upper hand going into the second leg. After a scoreless first period, captain Trevor Johnson got the scoring underway at the beginning of the second period to give Storm the lead. This was short lived as Jeff Mason evened the game up a couple of minutes later before Storm went 3-1 up thanks to goals from Mario Trabucco and Matt Bissonnette. The Giants then staged a comeback, Steve Saviano and Blair Riley grabbing a goal apiece. There was no more scoring in the game, leaving the second leg as a winner takes all scenario.

Since last week’s game both teams have been in Elite League action, the Giants taking on the Panthers and the Coventry Blaze at the weekend, whilst the Storm faced the Flyers on Saturday. It was a 4-point weekend for the Giants, as they downed the Panthers 7-4 at home before travelling to the SkyDome arena and dispatched the Blaze 3-0, Stephen Murphy earning a 27-save shutout. It was another fruitful weekend for Blair Riley, who posted another 4 points this weekend, grabbing 2 goals and an assist against the Panthers and an assist against the Panthers.

Manchester took on Fife on Saturday evening, eventually overcoming the Flyers on penalty shots as the game ended 3-3 after regulation and overtime. It was another game for the Storm that ebbed and flowed one way and then the other. Manchester raced to a 2-0 lead by the halfway point of the game, Taylor Dickin scoring early in the first period and Paul Phillips extending the lead in the second period. The Flyers then came back into the game, Brendan Brooks reducing the lead to 1 goal before a Chase Schaber double put Fife in the lead. A dramatic last few minutes ensued as Mario Trabucco got the equalising goal with 43 seconds left in the game, his 15th of the season for the Storm. There were no goals in overtime and Darian Dziurzynski and Mark Heatley were the only penalty shot scorers to earn 2 points for the Storm. Player of the Month Mike Clemente had another impressive performance in net, saving 36 of 39 shots during the game.

ONE TO WATCH: Steve Saviano is coming into the game off the back of a solid weekend scoring 3 points, as well as scoring in last week’s matchup between the Storm and the Giants. Known as more of a playmaker than goalscorer, the 5’7” forward has impressed over the last few weeks contributing goals and assists.

MATCH DETAILS:

• Game at the SSE Arena Belfast: 2 Queens Quay, Belfast BT3 9QQ
• Doors open from 6:00pm
• Face-off at 7:00pm
• Tickets for the game can be bought from HERE
• Webcast for the game can be found & ordered HERE
• Live Twitter updates from the game will be via StormLive
• Storm will be in their WHITE away jerseys