Belfast Giants increased the pressure on Elite League leaders Coventry Blaze with a 4-0 home shutout of Edinburgh Capitals.
Belfast blank Capitals to remain in title race
Belfast Giants increased the pressure on Elite League leaders Coventry Blaze with a 4-0 home shutout of Edinburgh Capitals on Sunday night.
After recording their second consecutive blanking of the Scottish team, Giants remain just one point behind Blaze in the standings with two games left to play.
Coventry have three fixtures left, and will be hoping to clinch the title before the final day of the season next week, when Giants visit the Skydome in what could be a deciding thriller.
Giants dominated Capitals on Sunday, with goaltender Stephen Murphy posting an incredible 8th shutout of the season, while Edinburgh net-minder Cody Rudkowsky did well to keep the score down.
The clash was one-sided from the off and the hosts were in front at 9.41 as Jeff Szwez found the net, before doubling the advantage on the powerplay at 13.37.
The second period brought two more goals for Giants, with George Awada netting a powerplay strike at 36.00 before Craig Peacock pushed past the firm resistance of the home side at 38.49.
Capitals upheld their dogged defence in the final period and there was no further scoring, but the hosts had already done enough and move one step closer to title glory.
Hopes
Cardiff Devils all but ended any title hopes
Nottingham Panthers were still harbouring with a 3-0 shutout in Wales.
It now appears all over for Panthers, who are four points behind Coventry in the table with just three games remaining for both sides.
Devils delivered a goal in each period to complete their blanking, which marked goaltender Stevie Lyle's fourth of the season.
Matt Miller netted on a delayed penalty call at 9.55 to fire the home side ahead, while Jay Latulippe struck on a late powerplay at 38.54 in the middle session.
The final goal was scored into the empty net in the concluding period as Mike Hartwick added the insurance with 21 seconds remaining.
Meanwhile,
Hull Stingrays seem determined to finish the regular season on a high after landing their third successive win with a 6-3 ousting of struggling
Newcastle Vipers.
Stingrays' recent run of form could see the Yorkshire side avoid the Elite League wooden spoon as they sit only three points behind Vipers at the bottom of the table with two games remaining.
The sides were tied at 1-1 by the end of the first period thanks to goals from Pavel Gomenyuk at 3.35 for the home side and Matic Kralj at 16.15 for Vipers.
Four more goals were shared in the middle session, with Kralj netting his second at 26.14 to put Vipers ahead before a shorthanded strike from Lee Mitchell levelled the scores at 26.14.
Vipers pulled ahead once again courtesy of Jerraime Domish at 32.42, only for skipper Jeff Glowa to restore equality at 34.42.
The hosts heaped on the pressure in the third period and saw results for their efforts, with Stephen Burns scoring shorthanded at 47.10 and Jason Silverthorn adding another at 51.20 before Glowa fired into the empty net to close out the victory with 20 seconds left on the clock.
Leaders
Coventry Blaze remained on track for their fourth Elite League title as they edged out
Sheffield Steelers 5-4 at home.
Steelers opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal from Matt Hubbauer at 2.15, but the hosts turned things around when Brian Lee and Luke Fulghum hit one each at 3.32 on the powerplay and 4.33. Ex-Steeler Brad Cruikshank made it 3-1 to Blaze at 11.56 before Tom Watkins added another at 18.51.
After a goalless second period, Sheffield trimmed the advantage at 42.23 thanks to Robert Dowd on the powerplay, but Dan Carlson replied for Blaze at 50.06 to make it 5-2.
Jonathan Phillips netted a third goal for the visitors at 55.28 before Joey Talbot made it a one goal game at 58.20 on the powerplay, but Sheffield could not find a way through after that and a relieved Coventry side bagged the points.
