Belfast boost title hopes

Belfast Giants put themselves right back into contention for the league title with a 4-0 home triumph over leaders Cardiff on Saturday.

The victory in Saturday's double-header also gave the long time leaders a four goal advantage when they travel to Wales for the second leg of their Challenge Cup semi-final.

Belfast engineered the better chances during the opening period, but Stevie Lyle stood firm in the Cardiff goal and the period ended goalless.

The hosts continued to dominate in the second and on 38.15 they finally found a way past Lyle, when Brett Hemmingway netted with a powerplay goal.

Simon Lambert made it 2-0 early in the third period before Jeff Mason struck at 48.54 and Jon Gleed netted at 51.19 to seal the win.

A depleted Newcastle outfit slumped to a 7-1 defeeat at the hands of Braehead Clan on their visit to Glasgow.

The Vipers, fielding just ten skaters and two goaltenders, put up a brave fight against their Scottish hosts.

But in the end the mountain proved too steep to climb as the Clan easily overcame their rivals.

Brendan Cook struck his 50th point of the season when he put the home side into ahead at 4.51.

Kyle Bruce scored at 6.19 to make it 2-0 and Cook claimed his second at 18.46, before player/coach Bruce Richardson added a fourth goal at 31.30.

Dean Holland got the Vipers on the scoresheet less than a minute later at 32.16 but from there on in it was one-way traffic at the Braehead Arena.

Adam Walker netted three minutes into the third period and 11 seconds later Jordan Krestanovich added another.

Bruce claimed a second goal to take the Clans' tally to seven when he found the net at 46.46.

Hull Stingrays ended their five-game losing streak with a 6-3 away victory against Edinburgh Capitals.

Bari McKenzie opened the scoring with a goal for the hosts at 5.39, but Matti Uusivirra put the Stingrays back on level terms almost immediately when he netted at 6.18.

Hull opened up a two-goal advantage with Jereme Tendler's strike at 30.28 and a goal from Ben Lowe at 31.09.

The Capitals pulled one back at 42.33 through Martin Cinge but the visitors then hit three unanswered goals to take the game away from their hosts.

Ryan Lake scored at 47.49, Uusivirra claimed his second at 50.14 and Andrew Coburn netted at 50.35.

McKenzie pulled one back with his second of the game at 54.35 to give the hosts some late consolation.

Sheffield Steelers came out on top following a penalty shootout to claim a 3-2 victory over Coventry Blaze.

Steeelers player/coach Ben Simon opened the scoring after a goalless first period when he netted at 21.54.

But ten minutes later Luke Fulghum levelled the scores with a shorthanded goal at 31.19.

Coventry looked to have scored the winner when Dan Carlson struck home at 58.41, but Derek Campbell hit back just 25 seconds later to send the game into overtime.

Sheffield goaltender Ervins Mustukovs took centre stage after a goalless overtime period as he turned away all eight shots that he faced.

And in the end Joey Talbot was the only player to find the net in the six shots that were taken to claim a narrow win for the Steelers.