The scoreline certainly doesn’t reflect a tight, physical, entertaining game with the atmosphere and intensity of a play-off match-up.

The huge crowd of 7256, with a large travelling support, made for a fantastic spectacle for the game.

The Giants dug deep to win this one with a strong team defensive performance all the more impressive after the disastrous final period in Sheffield last Sunday.

But netminder Jackson Whistle was once agin deservedly the man of the match.

This defeat may end the Devils title chances. They can still split the doubleheader on Saturday night but they really needed to pick up ground on the Giants and they can’t do that now.

However, Saturday’s game should be another classic.

We’ll enjoy Wales and Ireland in the Six Nations and then be back here at the SSE Arena from 18:45 on Saturday night

Game over as PO Morin makes it 4-1 with another empty netter

Mac Carruth gets pulled very early and with 1.36 to go JJ Piccinich slots home the empty netter

Cole Sanford hits the crossbar during the powerplay for the Devils but Giants kill the penalty and then Mac Carruth has to make a huge save on Ben Lake

Under 3 minutes remaining

Opportunity for Cardiff with 5.32 to go as they get their first powerplay of the game

Mark Cooper follows the play and when a loose puck arrives on his stick he buries it to give the Giants the lead

Huge 20 minutes coming up.

A Giants win surely ends the Devils title chances so a lot for Cardiff to play for.

Sheffield will be watching closely, Nottingham as well.

Strap yourself in as it’s game on…

All to play for as we look forward to the final period.

Will the Giants rue three powerplays that have gone begging?

All sorts going on in the past few minutes.

Giants come close to scoring on the powerplay and then are awarded a penalty shot when a Devils player knocks a broken stick into the path of the puck.

JJ Piccinich sees his effort saved by Mac Carruth.

The intensity has picked up as Carruth denies Jordan Kawaguchi on the doorstep.

Against the run of play in the second period the Giants are level as Bobo Carpenter skates around the back of the Devils net and finds PO Morin who the Devils defence hadn’t picked up.

Devils had started the period really well helped by some sloppy play from the Giants in their own zone.

The Devils with the slim advantage as the second period is underway here at the SSE Arena

Nip and tuck throughout the opening 20 minutes but not the one goal.

Giants carrying most of the play and have had chances but struggling to get inside the Devils defence.

Halfway through the first period which is being played at a very high play-off tempo.

Giants have come close to the equaliser but nothing on the board yet

Good start for the visitors. Big forechecking shift forces the mistake and Tyler Busch scores

Jackson Whistle gets the start between the pipes for the Giants and he’s faced by the Devils Mac Carruth.

Cardiff added forward Benjamin Almquist midweek, and he is in the line line-up.

These games always go a long way to deciding the Elite League title but the Devils can’t really afford to lose.

Off we go…

It’s the annual Giants v Devils doubleheader, looked forward to by both sets of supporters, part 1 of which takes place this evening.

A month or so ago, this would have been the challengers facing the league leaders.

However, a lot has happened in that time, and we now go into the game with the Giants on top and the Devils 11 points behind with two games in hand.

Adding further drama to these fixtures is the Giants' 13-minute collapse last weekend in Sheffield which saw a two-goal lead turn into a 5-2 defeat, now leaving them just four points ahead of the defending champions after the Steelers' midweek win.

The Giants do, however, go into this weekend's fixtures having not lost to Cardiff this season.

They won an October meeting 1-0, and have come away from Wales with two wins since, one of which was in overtime - the only team this season with a 100% record over the Devils.

If the Giants come through Wednesday's Challenge Cup second leg against Nottingham Panthers, these two teams will also be contesting the final of that competition.

Image source, BBC Sport