Friday: Giants vs. Devils Part I

Photo: William Cherry

Belfast Giants will host Cardiff Devils twice in successive nights at the SSE Arena this weekend, starting on Friday night for part one of their double-header.

Click here to watch Giants vs. Devils

A month or so ago, this would would have been the challengers facing the league leaders. However, a lot has happened in that time, and we now go into the game with the Giants on top and the Devils 11 points behind with two games in hand. Adding further drama to these fixtures is the Giants' 13-minute collapse last weekend in Sheffield which saw a two-goal lead turn into a 5-2 defeat, now leaving them just four points ahead of the defending champions after the Steelers' midweek win.

The Giants do, however, go into this weekend's fixtures having not lost to Cardiff this season. They won an October meeting 1-0, and have come away from Wales with two wins since, one of which was in overtime - the only team this season with a 100% record over the Devils. If the Giants come through Wednesday's Challenge Cup second leg against Nottingham Panthers, these two teams will also be contesting the final of that competition.

Cardiff added forward Benjamin Almquist midweek, and he is eligible to ice for the Devils.