ICE HOCKEY: Belfast Giants move top of Elite League following win over Dundee Stars

The Stena Line Belfast Giants moved into first place in the Elite League standings with a 6-3 win against the Dundee Stars on Saturday in Belfast.

With the game tied at 3-3, final period goals from Quesnele, Vandermeer and Foster gave the Giants the important win. The Giants now sit in first place, one point ahead of the Cardiff Devils who have played two games fewer.

Derrick Walser opened the scoring in this game when he pounced on a rebound and fired home, assisted by James Desmarais and Colin Shields at 10:59.

Justin Faryna equalised at 12:02 with a mid-air finish after Stephen Murphy had made the save from Felix-Antoine Poulin’s shot.

With only 1.5 seconds remaining in the first period, David Rutherford fed the puck to Blair Riley at the back post for a important goal just before the buzzer.

Cale Tanaka made it 2-2 on the night at 29:43, assisted by Joey Sides and Cameron McGiffin. However, the Giants regained the lead once again with a fine finish from David Rutherford at 30:48.

Justin Faryna grabbed his second of the game at 35:35 with a cool finish right in front of the net from a Kevin Hart pass. The Giants players protests that Blair Riley had been obstructed on the play were disregarded and the game was tied at the end of two periods of play.

Michael Quesnele took advantage of a rebound from Matt Nickerson’s shot to give the Giants a 4-3 lead at 48:41.

Then, at 54:18, Jim Vandermeer unleashed a cannon of a slapshot which rifled into the Stars net, assisted by Chris Higgins and Blair Riley.

The Giants sealed the win with an empty net goal at 57:35 when David Rutherford assisted Alex Foster.

The Giants return to home action on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th February against the Cardiff Devils - both games face-off 7pm at The SSE Arena, Belfast. Tickets are on sale now online at ticketmaster.ie as well as from The SSE Arena Box Office in person or by calling 028 9073 9074.