Giants tired and couldn’t score and in a results based business the shot total and number of chances they had doesn’t really matter.

It’s a third league defeat in a row to the sides 7th, 8th and 9th in the table and that simply isn’t good enough for a side leading the title chase.

However credit the Stars and in particular netminder Jarrett Fiske who was outstanding, the entire squad was.

They took their early chances and then held on with stout defence and superb goaltending.

A lot of head scratching for the Giants coaching staff to do with a trip to Guildford tomorrow before the Challenge Cup Final on Wednesday night against Cardiff.

5.36 remain

Karl Boudrais almost went coach-to-coast but was denied goal of the season by Fiske and the rebound hit the crossbar after the officials checked the replay

The ice has tilted towards the Dundee net but Jarrett Fiske hasn’t been breached in the third period including a four-minute powerplay for high-sticking.

Stars now on the powerplay themselves with 10 minutes to go

Huge 20 minutes coming up for the Belfast Giants.

It seems only a few weeks ago their lead at the top of the Elite League was ten points.

Now there’s the threat that they may not be in first place come the end of the weekend.

Expect the kitchen sink to be thrown at the Stars - can they hold on for a big win themselves?

After raising the tempo of the game for much of that period and beginning to dominate the Giants seemed to run out of a little steam towards the end.

As a result they still trail by a goal after two periods.

Image source, Press Eye

Scott Conway’s shot from the left circle forces a huge rebound from Jarrett Fiske and Gabe Bast is on hand to tuck the puck into the unguarded net for his second of the game.

Image source, Press Eye

I can’t imagine Giants coach Adam Keefe was too happy with the first period.

With ten games remaining in the title chase this is not a team looking like they want to close the race down.

Will the coach get the response he wants?

Stars have been excellent….

Image source, Press Eye

End of the first period and the Stars are deservedly ahead. They’ve taken their chances and played good hockey.

The Giants need to tighten up defensively but you still feel like there are goals to come.

Image source, Press Eye

A too many men on the ice call against the Stars sets up the Giants powerplay and Gabe Bast’s blast from the right circle closes the gap at 17:42.

Image source, Press Eye

Wow! Giants running around in their own zone allowing all the time in the world for Kyle Pouncey to score.

Adam Keefe takes his timeout with 7.40 left in the first period.

This is not going to the script for the home side.

Naas with a partial breakaway and uses Gabe Bast as a screen to wrist a beauty past Jackson Whistle.

Image source, Press Eye

Stars get the first powerplay for the Giants having too many men on the ice and score the opening goal from Spencer Naas at 6:08.

Image source, Press Eye

The Giants start Jackson Whistle between the pipes while the Stars go with Jarrett Fiske.

Big two points for both sides for different reasons on the line tonight.

Puck dropped and off we go…

League leaders Belfast Giants take on eighth-placed Dundee Stars with both teams involved in different races in the final weeks of the regular season.

The Giants have a four-point lead at the top of the table, with a game in hand, over Sheffield and five ahead of Nottingham, with those two sides playing each other.

The Giants have lost their last two games, however.

Dundee are seven points clear in a playoff place after Wednesday’s win in Manchester – they’ll face the Storm again on Sunday in a game that could almost decide their playoff place.

Image source, BBC Sport