This game was won in the first nine minutes with that five-goal outburst from the Belfast Giants but as well as being their biggest victory of the season it was a statement win as well.

The Giants seem to be rounding into form.

For the first time this season they are healthy, have four lines going and are getting some solid goaltending and with so many games coming up over the holiday season that’s a great sign.

We’ll also get an idea of how good they are/can be when Sheffield visit Belfast for the first time on Sunday.

As for Dundee, forget this one, turn the page quickly and move on.

Ben Lake adds a seventh for the Giants but the biggest cheers (almost) of the evening come for Andrew Dickson as Ballymoney’s finest comes on for Jackson Whistle for the final few minutes.

Since moving to forward Cameron Pound has suddenly become a goal scoring machine.

He scored a huge goal in the win over Cardiff last Saturday and now adds a neat one-time finish from the left circle.

Image source, Press Eye

So will the final 20 minutes be a formality?

Can Dundee do anything to rattle the Giants?

Off we go….

Image source, Press Eye

The Belfast Giants have officially launched their Hall of Fame.

The initiative will serve as a permanent tribute to honour key individuals who have made a giant impact on the club both on and off the ice since its formation in 2000.

As part of the club's 25th-season celebrations, the Hall of Fame will serve as a new tradition that will see select individuals inducted each year at a special Belfast Giants home game in December.

As a centrepiece of this year’s celebrations, five individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame as the inaugural class of honourees. The first group includes Bob Zeller and Albert Maasland; co-founders and former owners of the Belfast Giants, David Whistle; the first head coach for the club, Jason Bowen; former defenceman who signed in the club’s founding season, and Mark Morrison; former forward for the Belfast Giants.

These individuals, whose contributions have been pivotal in shaping the legacy and success of the club, were commemorated in a game night ceremony that allowed fans, old and new, to reflect on the club's storied history 25 seasons on.

Image source, Press Eye

Nothing much to repoirt from the middle period.

The Giants are in total control and Dundee unable to make much impact

Image source, Press Eye

Few stoppages, end-to-end but without a lot of intensity.

That’s the second period so far….

9 mins remaining

Extraordinary first 20 minutes with the Giants ahead 5-1.

Did the pre-game ceremony unsettle the Stars. There was a slight delay but nothing significant.

Giants appear to be finding their stride over the past couple of weeks.

Long way to go though….

Clean breakaway short-handed for JJ Piccinich who beats Jarrett Fiske.

Disappointing for the Stars who had a powerplay and a chance to eat into the deficit.

The comeback is on for Dundee as Jake Elmer beats Jackson Whistle.

The scoring just keeps on coming…..

We haven’t played nine minutes yet and the Giants are 4-0 up. Pierre-Olivier Morin left alone in the slot adds his name to the scoresheet.

Dundee call a timeout and change netminders with Jarrett Fiske taking over from Richard Sabol.

Not his fault but he’s let in four goals before Jackson Whistle has had to make a save at the other end.

The Stars haven’t gotten off the boat from Scotland yet.

The puck is delivered to Mark Cooper at the side of the net and almost untouched he pulls it in front of the Stars net and scorres.

Too easy from a Dundee point of view.

Image source, Press Eye

One of the weirdest goals so far this season. Gabe Bast’s one-timer comes off Richard Sabol’s stick and goes straight up into the arena ceiling.

When the puck lands, it does so in the Stars crease. No player has seen it, except Bast, who follows up and scores.

Giants now on the powerplay

Image source, Press Eye

Loose puck in the corner retrieved by Bobo Carpenter, Elijah Barriga bangs his stick on the ice and Carpenter’s pass finds him in front of the net for the tip-in.

Image source, Press Eye

The Giants held a pre-game ceremony as they opened their Hall of Fame tonight - more on that a little later.

Jackson Whistle gets the start between the pipes for the Giants while Richard Sabol in the starter for Dundee.

The puck is dropped and off we go….

Image source, Press Eye

Belfast Giants welcome Dundee Stars to the SSE Arena for the first time in a league fixture.

The Giants have won both meetings between the teams in Belfast so far this season, both played for Challenge Cup points.

The Stars are without a win in Belfast since November 2021.

There have certainly been some interesting results in the league in recent weeks and a four-point weekend for the Giants as they beat league leaders Cardiff and Coventry on the road has propel;led back into the title hunt.

With Cardiff in cup action this evening a victory for the Giants would lift them to within five points of the Welsh side with a couple of games in hand.

Dundee keep losing games by a single goal and are battling to stay in the top 8 but they are a match for any side on any given night.

Lots at stake in this one….

Image source, BBC Sport