Belfast Giants clinch Elite League title on dramatic final day

Summary

Nottingham Panthers v Belfast Giants (17:30)
Coventry Blaze v Sheffield Steelers (17:30)

Live Reporting

Nigel Ringland

GOAL! Giants tie the game at 1-1 in Nottinghampublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 6 April
Nottingham Panthers 1-1 Belfast Giants
All tied up in Nottingham.
The Panthers had 25 seconds worth of a two-man advantage but after the Giants got Mismash back it was captain Mark Cooper who scored short-handed to make it 1-1
Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,
Mark Cooper scores for the Belfast Giants
Panthers go on the powerplaypublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 6 April
Nottingham Panthers 1-0 Belfast Giants
Grant Mismash with the high-sticking penalty and Nottingham go on the powerplay.
GOAL! Steelers tie the game in Coventrypublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 6 April
Coventry Blaze 2-2 Sheffield Steelers
It’s tied up in Coventry as Mitchell Balmas scores for the Steelers at 8:35.
The pendulum swings the Steelers way.
If the Giants and Steelers end the day on the same number of points then Sheffield will be champions with more wins in regulation
GOAL! Nottingham with the opening goal against Giantspublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 6 April
Nottingham Panthers 1-0 Belfast Giants
The Panthers strike at home against the Giants.
Incredible early action in both games.
Mitchell Fossier with the goal
Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,
Fossier gives the Panthers the lead
GOAL! Steelers with immediate responsepublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 6 April
Coventry Blaze 2-1 Sheffield Steelers
What a start at the Skydome in Coventry.
Samuel Tremblay puts the Steelers on the board at 3:56.
Three goals in just over a minute
GOAL! Two for Coventry thirty seconds apartpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 6 April
Coventry Blaze 2-0 Sheffield Steelers
Another early goal for Coventry.
Thirty seconds after they take the lead Nick Seitz adds a second at 3:20
GOAL! Coventry lead Sheffieldpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 6 April
Coventry Blaze 1-0 Sheffield Steelers
Even before the puck is dropped in Nottingham the Coventry Blaze have the lead at home against Sheffield.
Brady Poutreau opens the scoring at the 2:50 mark
The games begin in Nottingham and Coventrypublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 6 April
Neither title challenger are at home and with simultaneous starts there is no advantage to either Belfast or Sheffield.
Jackson Whistle starts for the Giants between the pipes while the Panthers rest Jason Grande and start Jere Huhtamaa.
In Coventry the home side start Mat Robson while the Steelers will rely on Matthew Greenfield.
Strap yourself in because this is likely to be quite the ride….
Image source, Press Eye
Image caption,
The Belfast Giants warm-up for the game in Nottingham
Giants still in pole position…but only justpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 6 April
Belfast Giants 2-1 Nottingham Panthers
Mike Lee scored the overtime winner that kept the title race in the hands of the Belfast Giants.
It was a dramatic night at the SSE Arena, enjoy the highlights
Media caption,
Highlights: Belfast Giants 2-1 Nottingham Panthers
Giants or Steelers? Who will be crowned champions?published at 17:11 British Summer Time 6 April
After seven months and 53 games the race for the Elite League title comes down to the final day of the regular season.
Will it be the Giants or Steelers who lift the trophy?
The Giants need to beat Nottingham or have Sheffield lose to Coventry to add the league to their Challenge Cup success.
The Steelers need a win and a Giants defeat.
By the end of the day we’ll also know the four play-off quarter-finals scheduled for next weekend.
We know Nottingham will face Guildford and Cardiff will take on Coventry.
Dundee need a point against Fife today to edge Manchester out of the play-offs.
It’s going to be a thrilling afternoon. How many twists will there be?
Image source, BBC Sport
Image caption,
Elite League title race - final day