Two out of two for Giants
Belfast enjoyed a 100 per cent record in the weekend's Elite League double-header after beating both Sheffield and Cardiff.
Last Updated: 11/10/10 9:59am
Top-of-the-table Belfast Giants enjoyed a 100 per cent record in the weekend's Elite Ice Hockey League double-header after beating both Sheffield Steelers and Cardiff Devils.
The Devils were first up on Saturday and the game could have gone either way right up to the last two minutes in the third period.
With the teams tied at two apiece, a powerplay goal from Brent Hemingway put the Giants ahead with just over seven minutes remaining. Two goals in the last two minutes from Brad Smyth and Colin Hemingway then secured a 5-2 win.
They inflicted a first league defeat on the Steelers 24 hours later, having opened up a two-goal lead in the first period before fending off a spirited fightback.
Strikes from Mark Garside and Ashley Tait had the score level before goals from Josh Prudden, Brent Hemingway and Jon Gleed put the Giants clear.
Robert Dowd and Ben Simon reduced the deficit to one before Prudden scored his second of the game to maintain the Giants' two-goal lead.
Mike Bayrack found the net for Belfast at 41.29 but Sheffield responded when Rod Sarich netted 30 seconds later.
Jeff Legue found the back of the net with a powerplay goal at 51.55 but the Steelers were unable to get on level terms.
Cardiff responded, however, with a 5-2 win against Dundee Stars - the Devils recording their fifth straight win at home.
Hull Stingrays experienced mixed fortunes north of the border, losing 6-2 to Braehead Clan before beating Edinburgh Capitals 4-3 to score their first points.
Dundee's slow start was confirmed on Saturday when they lost 3-1 at home to Edinburgh, the Stars doing themselves no favours by conceding all three in the opening period.
Coventry Blaze and Newcastle Vipers became very well acquainted at the weekend but it was the former who took the points on both occasions.
The Blaze were certainly aflame on Saturday, beating their opponents 7-2 with five of the goals coming in the second period.
The second contest was a tighter affair and was not settled until the last 10 minutes, when Coventry added two goals to a strike in the first period for a 3-0 win.
Sheffield may have lost their unbeaten record on Sunday but they at least managed a 4-1 away win at Nottingham Panthers this weekend.
A crowd of over 7,000 were packed in to see an encounter that saw the Steelers open up a six-point gap between themselves and their fiercest rivals.
