Giants haven’t had a shot in the first six minutes and then from nothing a loose puck is swatted into the roof of the net by Ciaran Long at 6.35

Image source, Press Eye

Jackson Whistle called into action on a few occasions as the Devils with the better start and plenty of offensive zone time

Tonight’s starting netminders are Jackson Whistle for the Belfast Giants and Mac Carruth for the Cardiff Devils.

Both sides are pretty much at full strength.

Strap yourselves in because this could be a classic.

Image source, Press Eye

Can the Giants make their home advantage count?

Image source, Press Eye

Belfast Giants host Cardiff Devils at the SSE Arena in Belfast in the one-off Final, with the winners being crowned Challenge Cup Champions and claiming the first silverware of this season.

The Giants go into this Final in interesting form.

Adam Keefe’s side have won just one of their last five games, ending their losing streak on Sunday in Guildford with a late winner.

That said, they face a team that they’ve not lost to at all this season, having beaten the Devils five times and shut them out at the SSE Arena twice in three games.

Cardiff are one of the league’s form teams as they get back to full strength. The Devils have won four of their last five games, and overcame an aggregate differential of two against defending champions Sheffield to get to this Final.

The Devils arrived in Belfast on Tuesday afternoon. Both teams skated at the SSE Arena on Tuesday, and both had morning ice on Cup Final Day.

Image source, BBC Sport

Giants Adam Keefe and Devils Pete Russell were at the morning skate and gave us their views on tonight’s big game

Live text commentary of the Belfast Giants versus Cardiff Devils in the 2025 Challenge Cup Final will begin here at 18:30 GMT

Image source, BBC Sport