Manchester Storm beat Belfast Giants 4-3 at Planet Ice Altrincham on Sunday afternoon in a rescheduled EIHL fixture that will have significant implications for the title race, Johnson scoring at just 28 seconds before Belfast twice drew level and then took the lead in the second period, only for Clavelle to restore Manchester's advantage at 50:28 in the third period. Belfast pulled their goalkeeper and called a timeout with over a minute remaining but couldn't find the equaliser.

It is a precious two points for Manchester — who had won three in a row coming in, including two this weekend, before this result makes it three from three for the weekend — and a potentially costly dropped pair for Belfast, who had won five of six heading into this rescheduled fixture. Caffi started again in goal for Belfast, with Kupsky rested for a second successive match, and this time the deputy couldn't hold out.

Johnson at 28 seconds — Belfast respond twice in the first period

Johnson scored at 0:28 — Caines and Nardi assisting — to give Manchester the fastest possible start. Belfast were penalised twice early on — Irwin for delay of game at 3:27, a bench minor for too many men at 6:05 — before Welsh was penalised for slashing at 8:57 without consequence. Harrison added a second for Manchester at 13:34 from Gilmour and Cutler to make it 2-0. Bast was penalised for slashing at 17:39 before Piccinich scored for Belfast at 17:24 — from Boudrias and Conway — to pull it to 2-1 with the period almost over. The first period ended 2-1 to Manchester.

Belfast level and lead in the second — Cutler restores Manchester's advantage

The second period was Belfast's. Gaudet scored at 24:17 from Kawaguchi and Guay to level at 2-2. Twarynski put Belfast ahead at 26:25 from Beattie to make it 2-3. Cutler then restored Manchester's advantage at 21:15 from Johnson's assist — making it 3-2 to Manchester — and Jenion was penalised for holding at 30:10 without further scoring. The second period ended 3-3 with the match perfectly balanced.

Note: the scoresheet lists Cutler's goal at 21:15 and Belfast's two goals at 24:17 and 26:25, which places Cutler's goal before Belfast's response — meaning Manchester went 3-1 up before Belfast scored twice to level at 3-3.

Clavelle wins it in the third — Belfast can't respond

Clavelle scored at 50:28 from Caines and Nardi to make it 4-3 to Manchester — the same Caines-Nardi combination that had assisted Johnson's opening goal. Belfast pulled their goalkeeper at 58:25 and called their timeout at 58:46. They could not score. Manchester held on.

For the title race, this is a result that tightens things. Belfast's five from six run is interrupted here, and Manchester — who had been erratic all season — find two wins from two in this weekend's three matches a timely return to form. Nottingham's position becomes more relevant again if this match's context is taken into account across the final fixtures.

Result: Manchester Storm 4 – 3 Belfast Giants
Manchester Storm scorers: Johnson 0:28 (A: Caines, Nardi) — Harrison 13:34 (A: Gilmour, Cutler) — Cutler 21:15 (A: Johnson) — Clavelle 50:28 (A: Caines, Nardi)
Belfast Giants scorers: Piccinich 17:24 (A: Boudrias, Conway) — Gaudet 24:17 (A: Kawaguchi, Guay) — Twarynski 26:25 (A: Beattie)
Goaltenders: Evan Weninger (MAN) | Alex Caffi (BEL)