Best game of the season. It might not have had the goals but what a fantastic, thrilling game of hockey.

Both sides gave everything. In the end Ben Lake and Scott Conway scored for the Giants in the shootout and Brendan Connolly for the Steelers but Tyler Beskorowany who kept the Giants in the game in overtime made three saves and the Giants make it a four point weekend.

The attendance was 6517 which means over 12,600 witnessed the two games and what at atmosphere.

It means the Giants, Steelers and Devils are all tied for second place on 53 points, six points behind Guildford.

Next up for the Giants, the visit of Guildford next Saturday night.

Image source, Press Eye

Breathless 5 minutes - Giants goalie Tyler Beskorowany with a triple save that defied belief to stop the Steelers. Shootout coming up

No goals but boring it certainly hasn't been - now we get 5 minutes of sudden death 5-on-3 overtime. Both sides have a point, who gets the second?

2:25 to go - chances at both ends - will there be a winner?

Steelers get first man advantage of the game but the Giants penalty kill does its job as tempers begin to rise. Steelers coach Aaron Fox is not happy. Penalties after a scrum in front of the Giants net being handed out. We skate on 5-on-5

Guildford have won, Cardiff are winning...the next 20 minutes could be crucial to both these sides in the chase for the Elite League title...

Will it take a moment of genius or a mistake to break the deadlock?

Here we go....

Image source, Press Eye

It's a game of such intensity with both sides desperate to win and if anyone tells them that Elite League leaders, Guildford Flames have already won, 4-3, over Coventry then that desperation is just going to increase in there third period.

Both goaltenders have been on their games this evening but Giants have had three powerplay chances and haven't scored - Sheffield haven't had one - you would expect at some stage they will

Image source, Press Eye

Giants had 39 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage and couldn't find the back of the Steelers net. Huge penalty kill by the visitors - turning point in game???

Image source, Press Eye

Will Belfast rue the first period chances they had? Can Sheffield create some sustained offence?

Image source, Press Eye

The first period has flown by. Sheffield brought the physical game tonight finishing every check hard but they've been out-shot 16-4 by the Giants who haven't been goaded into taking penalties and have gotten on with trying to score.

They'll be disappointed not to be ahead but Matthew Greenfield has stopped every puck shot in his direction so far...

Image source, Press Eye

David Gilbert forces Sheffield netminder Matthew Greenfield into a terrific pad save and then somehow the goalie and two team mates end up in the net but the Giants can't force the puck home and Greenfield again has just stopped Ben Lake

Both sides have come to play, Sheffield ramping up the physicality and aggressive on the penalty kill as they allowed no chances for the Giants

Image source, Press Eye

The puck is dropped, the area is loud and the Giants and Steelers go to battle once again. Who will come out on top? We are about to find out....

Scott Conway's hat-trick led the Belfast Giants to a 5-3 win in the first game of the weekend doubleheader. It was a great game of hockey played by two good evenly matched sides with a little bit of everything.

Both sides scored a pair of goals on their respective powerplays, punishing a lack of composure from both sets of players at times.

Guildford won and so opened up a 5 point lead at the top of the Elite League standings over Sheffield who will not want to be swept by a title rival.

If the Giants win again they will leapfrog the Steelers and into second place ahead of their next game - against Guildford next Saturday night here in Belfast.

It's great theatre with a 4-team race for the title and 19 games to go.

It's heading towards a sell-out tonight, the Sheffield fans, hundreds of them are in the building. It's another classic match-up to look forward to.

Belfast Giants

G Tyler Beskorowany D Gabe Bast D Sam Ruopp RW Mark Cooper C Scott Conway LW David Goodwin

Sheffield Steelers

G Matthew Greenfield D David Phillips D Kevin Schulze RW Marc-Olivier Vallerand C Scott Allen LW Daniel Ciampini

Image source, BBC Sport

They say sequels are never as good as the original and after last night's wildly entertaining 5-3 Giants win over the Steelers tonight's match-up has much to live up to.

But with the fists flying in the closing moments of the game and two more massive points available in the Elite League title race who knows what could be ahead this evening.

The Steelers fans are in the SSE Arena in force,, the Giants supporters are ready to go. It's heading towards a sellout.

Welcome to Hockey Night in Belfast...LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Image source, BBC Sport