Belfast Giants v Dundee Stars (19:00 BST)
Belfast Giants 5-2 Dundee Stars
The Giants will take a three-goal lead into tomorrow’s return leg in Dundee.
Will it be enough?
Fun finale to the home slate here in Belfast this season. Giants deserved the win but Dundee didn’t get many breaks in the game.
They’ll need a hot start and then who knows….
Belfast Giants 5-2 Dundee Stars
There is so much nastiness in this game all of a sudden.
Stars make the powerplay count with Cole Macdonald scoring but after the goal Scott Conway and Kameron Kielly start throwing haymakers with the Giants players getting a couple of huge blows in.
It’s play-off hockey…
The Zamboni is on clearing up the blood.
Giants will end the game on the powerplay with Kielly getting an extra two minutes.
1:45 to go…
Belfast Giants 5-1 Dundee Stars
Teh Giants score a fifth while a couple of players are in the process of dropping the gloves.
You don’t see that everyday.
Then a brawl breaks out.
Grant Mismash is the scorer.
Stars end up with a powerplay
Belfast Giants 4-1 Dundee Stars
Stars again created chances on the powerplay but fail to find a way past Jackson Whistle.
They need to find a goal in the closing stages you would think to have a chance at home.
Belfast Giants 4-1 Dundee Stars
Might have been a soft call but the Giants don’t care.
Yet another goal for Mike Lee who now has five in the past three games including two tonight. Big blast from the blueline.
Belfast Giants 3-1 Dundee Stars
Dundee have come close but a soft hooking call now’s sees them on the penalty kill
Belfast Giants 3-1 Dundee Stars
Can the Belfast Giants put daylight between themselves and the Stars ahead of the second leg tomorrow?
Will Dundee close the gap?
Last 20 minutes of hockey of another successful season at the SSE Arena
Image source, Press EyeSecond period action in Belfast
Belfast Giants watch on as the Elite League and Challenge Cup banners are raised to the rafters at the SSE Arena.
Image source, Press EyeGiants raise Championship banners
Belfast Giants 3-1 Dundee Stars
Good second period by the Giants but Dundee unlucky not to score at least one and still have all to play for heading into the final period.
Belfast Giants 3-1 Dundee Stars
Ben Lake gets the third goal for the Giants moments after Dundee hit the post.
Lake banks the puck off the back of Jarret Fiske.
Image source, Press EyeBen Lake skates away after giving Giants 3-1 lead
Belfast Giants 2-1 Dundee Stars
Giants back in front as David Goodwin shows patience before releasing the shot that cannons off Jarret Fiske’s pad and onto the stick of Mike Lee.
Image source, Press EyeMike Lee leaps into the arms of Scott Conway after scoring
Belfast Giants 1-1 Dundee Stars
We’re back underway in the second period at the SSE Arena all tied up at 1-1.
Image source, Press EyeFirst period action from Belfast
Belfast Giants 1-1 Dundee Stars
Dundee won’t have wanted that period to end.
After the goal and the momentum of a good powerplay, they finished the period on a high.
Tight game, as we thought it would be
Image source, Press EyeFirst period action from Belfast
Belfast Giants 1-1 Dundee Stars
Impressive Stars powerplay creates a coupole of chances but Giants laying bodies on the line to block shots
Belfast Giants 1-1 Dundee Stars
We have a tied game late in the first period.
Kyle Pouncey’s shot from the right point through a scrum of players beats Jackson Whistle.
And the Stars now get the first powerplay of the game
Image source, Press EyeStars celebrate the game tying goal
Belfast Giants 1-0 Dundee Stars
Giants have controlled the period but the Stars have had two great opportunities.
Zachary Tsekos on a breakaway was denied by Jackson Whistle and then the Giants netminder stopped Phillipe Sanche.
Great pace to the game.
Belfast Giants 1-0 Dundee Stars
Seconds after making an excellent stop from JJ Piccinich, Jarrett Fiske can’t hold on to a shot from Bobo Carpenter and leaves the rebound in the crease for Jordan Kawaguchi to poke into the empty net
Image source, Press EyeJordan Kawaguchi scores for the Giants
Belfast Giants 0-0 Dundee Stars
The Belfast Giants raise to the rafters the banners for winning the Elite League and Challenge Cup.
Jackson Whistle starts between the pipes for the Giants and he’s faced by Jarrett Fiske for the Dundee Stars.
It’s play-off hockey and the last home game for the double winning Belfast Giants this season.
Will the Stars halt their ambitions for a second Grand Slam in three seasons?
Off we go…
Image source, Press EyeJackson Whistle starts for the Belfast Giants
Belfast Giants v Dundee Stars (19:00 BST)
After all the drama of the Elite League title race it’s hard to believe there could be anymore in store this season but hang on - it’s time for the play-offs.
To be honest I think these are the four toughest quarter-finals in the history of the Elite League.
Seventh seed Glasgow have already beaten Sheffield 3-1 and will take that two-goal advantage into the second leg tomorrow.
Tonight the first legs take place between Guildford and Nottingham, Coventry and Cardiff and here at the SSE Arena between the Belfast Giants and Dundee Stars.
On paper it’s 1st v 8th but on their last visit here a fern weeks ago, Dundee skated away with a win that nearly cost the Giants the league title and just like the other three ties this is by no means a certainty.
Image source, BBC SportPlay-offs first leg - Belfast Giants v Dundee Stars