Cardiff Devils continued their incredible run in the Elite League by securing a 16th consecutive victory with an 8-1 thrashing of Newcastle Vipers.
The contest was effectively over after the first period as goals from Kenton Smith, Stuart MacRae, Tylor Michel and Max Birbraer put the hosts 4-0 up.
Birbraer then netted his second of the game at 32.18 to extend the lead to five goals before Jaro Rzeszutko pulled one back for the Vipers early in the third period.
But Cardiff’s scoring was not finished, with Ryan Finnerty and Brad Voth making it 7-1 before Birbraer completed his hat-trick with 10 seconds left.
Belfast Giants remained at the top of the league standings after a 2-0 win over Hull Stingrays but will now be looking over their shoulders at in-form Cardiff.
It was a welcome win for Belfast, who have lost their last three games at home, with Mark Garside’s opening goal at 13.16 easing the tension inside the Odyssey Arena.
Penalty
The only other goal came in the second period as Simon Lambert converted a penalty shot at the midway point to give the hosts some breathing space.
Neither side managed to hit the net during the remainder of the contest as Hull were shut out for the fourth time this season.
Nottingham Panthers scraped a 6-5 victory over Dundee Stars after a penalty shootout to pick up only their second win in eight games.
The Stars made the brighter start as they scored two goals in as many minutes in the first period through Mark Nebus and Gary Wishart.
After two ejections – one for each side – the Panthers got back into the game in the second period as David Clarke reduced the gap before Matt Myers levelled.
A chaotic third period then saw six goals scored, with Dundee’s Brent Hughes hitting a hat-trick in just over four minutes and Nottingham’s Billy Ryan grabbing a late equaliser.
David Alexandre Beauregard was then the only player to score his penalty shot to give the Panthers the win.
Steelers win
Sheffield Steelers recorded their sixth straight win – a 5-2 triumph over Coventry Blaze – to stay in touch with Belfast and Cardiff at the top of the league.
The only goal of the first period was netted with just 63 seconds gone as Jeff League scored on a powerplay to put Sheffield ahead.
Coventry turned things around in the second period as goals from Luke Fughum and Ross Venus put them into the lead before Robert Dowd brought the scores level.
The Steelers then edged ahead again through Neil Clark before Ben Simon and David Campbell netted in the final period despite Ervins Mustukovs being the busier goaltender.
Braehead Clan completed the double over Scottish rivals Edinburgh Capitals with an emphatic 8-0 win, condemning the hosts to a seventh loss in a row.
Kyle Bruce scored the only goal of the first period at 12.24 but the Clan took control in the second as strikes from Bobby Chaumont, Cody Bostock and Brendan Cook made it 4-0.
The rout then continued in the third period as Chaumont grabbed his second before Jon Landry hit a quick-fire double and Ryan Campbell made it eight with just under two minutes left.
