Tonight: Giants head into crucial Panthers double-header

Photo: Darren Kidd

Nottingham Panthers did Belfast Giants a huge favour beating Sheffield last week, but now it will be Steelers fans hoping the Panthers help them out this weekend.

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The Panthers are in Belfast for games tonight and tomorrow against the league-leading Giants. Adam Keefe's side extended their advantage at the top to four points partly thanks to the Panthers beating Sheffield 3-0 last Saturday.

Belfast have nine games left to play this season: win them all and they're league champions. On current maths, they could afford to drop two more points (if Sheffield win their game in hand) than the Steelers from now until the end of the season, with the Giants having the superior tie-breaker.

Nottingham are fourth and after a wobble where it looked like they might get overtaken, have won key games to stay at least two points ahead than the chasing pack even if teams below won all of their games in hand.

Belfast have won all four league meetings with the Panthers this season, and also knocked them out of the Premier Sports Challenge Cup at the Semi-Final stage.