Giants edge ever closer to league title
With only nine games left in the regular season play the Giants edge closer to the Elite League title after a thirteen to two goal total output over both Hull and Fife.
Facing Hull Stingrays first who now look secure seventh place in the league tables and a playoff berth as well but were no match for top of the table Giants.
Especially after Belfast’s Jeff Mason career first hat trick led the way plus two markers from new signing Mike Hoffman on Friday night 6-1 win. The Giants now seems to be able to muster a fantastic following for the team with a near capacity crowd on Friday night in the Odyssey Arena
However on Pink night which was the Saturday night top verse bottom. “Breast Cancer Awareness Night” with the Giants taking on the oldest club in the UK, that of the Fife Flyers. The Flyers were formed in 1938 and have been playing continually since then however this was their first season in the Elite League.
Sadly the Flyers were no match for the home team as they went down 7-1. The Belfast goals game from seven different sources as the home team proved they were both Challenge Cup and League title top contenders for a reason.
The Giants wore pink game shirts, which they successfully auctioned off following the game to raise a well-deserved sum going towards The Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. Looking at the prices they achieved gives great credit to the Giants defenseman Nick Kuiper who could take over any auction and be successful, plus Todd Kelman and his staff who handled the night superbly.
The Giants are away for the next three games taking on Hull and Coventry this Saturday and Sunday night. They then play a crucial game against Sheffield in Steel town on Friday the 2nd of March and finally come home against Braehead Saturday the 3rd of March in the Odyssey Arena.
Nottingham Panthers who face the Giants in the two-legged Challenge Cup final helped Belfast this weekend by defeating Sheffield Steelers 5-1 in the Lace City. That loss certainly didn’t rule out Sheffield from the Championship but it certainly didn’t help them either.
The Steelers still have five games in hand over Belfast but now lay nine points behind the Giants. Belfast and Sheffield go at it three more times this season the results will be pivotal towards the final outcome of the league race.