Giants and Devils open crucial double-header weekend

Photo: William Cherry

It's a double-header weekend in Belfast that could go a long way to deciding the fate of all three tiles in the Premier Sports Elite League title race.

The Giants host Cardiff for back-to-back-games at the SSE Arena with Sheffield most definitely looking on with interest.

Belfast trail the Steelers by five points having played level games. Cardiff are two back but have played three more. Ultimately, neither side can afford to lose both games this weekend - but an even split of the series would only benefit the Steelers.

The Giants go into this game on a three-match win streak having beaten Coventry in both home games last weekend. They've only conceded two goals in those games and put in 13 at the other end.  Cardiff are on a four-game winning run head into Belfast, scoring 16 and conceding only four. For both teams, their last defeats were against each other.

Cardiff have the leagues best powerplay by a distance at 27.62% (Belfast 20.51%, #5 overall). The Devils' penalty kill of 87.10% is first overall, followed by the Giants on 85.44%.

Head to head:

• The Giants won the only meeting in Belfast by 1-0
• Cardiff won all three meetings at home
• The Devils have only scored one goal in Belfast on their last three visits