Thoroughly deserved victory for Manchester.

Their precarious position of trying to secure the final play-off spot appeared to matter much more to the Storm than a Giants side chasing the title because they man-handled the home side.

They won the physical battle and every other puck battle all over the ice.

It was a poor performance from the Giants, especially considering the circumstances, and they never managed to roll though the gears.

The title race is still in their hands - two wins over Nottingham would still do it - but Sheffield and Nottingham are both still alive.

It’s a three-team race heading into the final weekend!

Empty netter by Craig Martin seals a win for Manchester and keeps them alive in the running for the final play-off spot.

A fourth goal for the Storm and the SSE Arena is emptying quickly.

The Giants picked the wrong day for one of their worst performances of the season.

Tyler Hinam with the goal

Zak Galambos turns the puck over and Alexis D’Aoust completes his hat-trick.

Giants haven’t looked like mounting a comeback and now that has just gotten harder

Giants building a head of steam but they haven’t found that equaliser yet.

14:07 to go

The Giants need a comeback or the title race is wide open once again.

We’re back underway with a massive twenty minutes to play

No goals in that period and no real sign of the Giants finding a higher gear.

Plenty of possession and pressure but little to show for it.

Storm will begin the final period on the powerplay

Image source, Press Eye

The Giants powerplay offered little in terms of chances

Both sides have had periods of pressure but the Giants now have their first powerplay of the game

7:47 to go in the second period

Elijah Barriga took out his frustration with a huge, legal hit in front of the Giants bench.

It sparks a melee…multiple penalties, two each and we play on….

Goes without saying that this is a huge period coming up.

Storm deservedly ahead after twenty minutes. Could have been more as the Giants have had some really bad defensive breakdowns.

But it’s the result that counts and plenty of time for the Giants to find their game.

Image source, Press Eye

Attempted Giants clearance hits an official which keepers the puck in the offensive zone and the shot from Alexis D’Aoust from the right point finds a way past Tom McCollum

The opening few minutes have seen multiple defensive breakdowns by the Giants and lucky not to have conceded a second goal.

So against the run of play David Goodwin ties the score at 5:31

Image source, Press Eye

The Giants recent run of going behind at home continues as Alexis D’Aoust opens the scoring after only 27 seconds

Image source, Press Eye

The Giants start Tom McCollum between the pipes tonight with David Tendeck opposing him for the Manchester Storm.

So many scenarios could play themselves out over the next few hours but for both these sides it starts with getting the two points.

We’re underway at the SSE Arena in Belfast….

The Giants will play in their fourth straight home game this afternoon with a chance to clinch the Elite League title.

Their opposition are the Manchester Storm who require nothing less than the full two points themselves as they look to close the gap on the eight-place Dundee Stars who currently occupy the last playoff spot.

A win for the Giants coupled with a loss for Sheffield in Fife would be enough for the Giants to win a fourth title out of the past five times the league has been completed, with two years missing because of Covid.

The Storm head to the SSE being 5-5 in their last ten and their backs against the wall. A regulation loss tonight followed up by a Stars win would see the last playoff spot be clinched by the Stars.

The Giants, are 6-4 in their last ten but are on a three game winning streak.

A multitude of outcomes for both teams tonight in Belfast - it is sure to be spectacle.

Image source, BBC Sport