Elite League: Cullen hits double as Giants defeat Stars

Will Cullen scores for the Giants in Sunday night's league victory over Dundee

Will Cullen netted twice to help Belfast Giants edge Dundee Stars 4-3 in Sunday's league game at the SSE Arena.

The Giants were aiming to bounce back from a 4-2 defeat by Cardiff Devils on Saturday night but they fell behind to Phillipe Sanche's early opener.

Cullen bagged his double and Ben Lake made it 3-1 before Johan Eriksson pulled one back.

Lewis Hook netted a fourth for the Giants, who held on after Eriksson scored with just over a minute left.

The hosts pressed from the start but Dundee struck first when Sanche converted with their second shot of the match on 8:19.

Belfast levelled six minutes later with Cullen hitting first-time into the top corner and he put the Giants in front at 28:52 with a long-range strike.

Lake increased Belfast's advantage at 33:47 on the breakaway as he rounded netminder Anton Svensson before netting.

It was 3-2 just 75 seconds later when Eriksson scored from the rebound after netminder Jackson Whistle kept out Ben Sokay's shot.

Hook restored the two-goal advantage at 46:10 by finding the net from a goalmouth scramble but back came Dundee again as Eriksson tapped in with 67 seconds left.

The Elite League champions held firm to seal the two points and they are back in action on Thursday against Nottingham Panthers.