It went end-to-end.

Alexander Tonge had two one-on-one chances to win it for the Stars but Tom McCollum denied him twice.

Then with a minute left it was Jordan Kawaguchi who drove the net and scored on the backhand to bring the curtain down on a memorable season opener for the Giants.

Defensively it wasn’t a masterclass by either side but it was exciting.

What a start to the new season.

So each side have a point, which side gets the second?

Off we go to five-minutes of sudden death 3-on-3 overtime

Stars netminder Richard Sabol just made the save of the game as he denied Ben Lake from point blank range.

5:42 remaining

Great powerplay goal for the Dundee Stars as the Giants get lost in coverage.

]Brendan Harms from the slot gets his second goal of the game

Giants edge ahead as the old one-two of Scott Conway and JJ Piccinich combine to score with fourteen minutes remaining

Image source, Press Eye

One of these teams will skate away with two Challenge Cup points tonight, but which one?

We are underway in the final period

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Paris Olympic pommel horse gold medalist Rhys McClenaghan was on hand to drop the ceremonial puck on the home opener of the Giants 25th anniversary season.

McClenaghan was one of four gold medalists from Northern Ireland to along with a silver and two bronze medals.

One of those bronze medalists, rower Philip Doyle, will present the man of the match awards.

Image source, Press Eye

The Giants finish the second period on the powerplay and in the ascendancy although it’s still all to play for.

The Stars are still showing glimpses that they aren’t finished with this game either.

Exciting final period ahead.

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Bobo Carpenter leads a 2-on-1 rush up ice, His eyes say he’ll pass the puck to Ben Lake but he takes the shot and goes over the shoulder of Sabol.

Image source, Press Eye

It’s a one-goal game again.

Kyle Osterberg shows off his speed and sets up Jordan Kawaguchi for the one-timer.

Image source, Press Eye

Approaching the halfway point of the game and with the Giants pressing a turnover allows Cole MacDonald the chance to score from the left circle.

Scott Conway is back! First of the season and it took just 17 seconds after the restart for the Giants legend to take a pass from JJ Piccinich and fire the puck past Richard Sabol.

Image source, Press Eye

So what will the Giants response be to that poor first period?

IT’S IMMEDIATE…..

After killing a 5-on-3 powerplay for the Stars the Giants hit the post for a second time, with Scott Conway denied.

Plenty of work for Adam Keefe to do at the period break.

Defensively it’s been poor from the Giants.

You could hear a pin drop. Shortly after the Giants hit the post the Stars go up the other end and Kameron Kielly is given too much time from the slot to bury the puck past McCollum.

Image source, Press Eye

Just 36 seconds after tying the game the Stars are ahead when Brendan Harms scores.

Giants at sea defensively, almost concede a third.

Stars are level after a breakaway goal from a bouncing puck that found its way onto the stick of Jake Elmer who went top shelf on Tom McCollum

86 seconds into the game and the Giants lead.

Jeff Baum and Jordan Kawaguchi set the play up and Joe Cassetti is left all alone in front of the Stars net.

Image source, Press Eye

Paris Olympic pommel horse champion Rhys McClenaghan was on hand to drop the ceremonial puck for the 25th Giants season at home and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Tonight’s starting netminders are Tom McCollum for the Giants and Richard Sabol for the Dundee Stars.

Scott Conway is back in the Giants line-up after missing last weekend.

A special season for the Belfast Giants got underway on the road last weekend with a pair of Challenge Cup wins over Dundee and Fife.

Tonight they begin their 25th home campaign with the Dundee Stars the visitors to a packed SSE Arena.

The face-off is 7pm

Image source, Press Eye