Giants win. Frantic finish to game. Scott Conway hit the post with the long range empty net attempt and despite pulling McAdam Guildford couldn't find a way past a resilient Giants team.

Giants went 2 for 2 on the powerplay while Guildford went 0-for-4 and that was the difference in a very tight game.

Giants played desperate hockey in a must win game in front of 6534 at the SSE Arena and after going behind credit to coach Adam Keefe for making changes to his lines that made a big difference.

Guildford played an awful good road game and had a lot of chances but Tyler Beskorowany looks like he is in the zone at the moment.

With Cardiff losing in Coventry the Giants move into a tie for second place, now just four points behind the Flames.

Fife visit Belfast tomorrow while Guildford have the day off.

Face-off against the Flyers is 4pm - join me then for all the updates

Image source, Press Eye

Two of the four minutes of powerplay time eliminated by a penalty to Ben O'Connor. Sides skate 4-on-4 Owre misses chance to ice game for Giants - McAdam pulled for short two-man advantage.

Five minutes to go - Flames to the powerplay. Giants not happy with the call on Gabe Bast and there's a misconduct penalty to go along with it - four-minute powerplay for Guildford

Both teams want this game badly. Sam Ruopp hits the crossbar for the Giants while Peter Crinella forces Tyler Beskorowany into a huge one-on-one save at the other end.

Image source, Press Eye

They are all big games from now until the end of the season but for the Giants holding on to win could be crucial.

Guildford know if they can comeback and win it would be huge for them as they chase their first ever Elite League title

Image source, Press Eye

The game certainly warmed up in the second period. The Giants were much, much better and credit coach Adam Keefe with a coaching move that has made a huge difference. He put the speedy Steve Owre on the top line with David Goodwin and Scott Conway and moved Mark Cooper alongside Ben Lake and Lewis Hook - a combination that had such success last season. So far for the Giants it's working.

That's not to say the Flames aren't continuing to buzz around Beskorowany's net and create opportunities so this game is far from over.

Giants powerplay 2 for 2 - it's winning the game for the home team

Image source, Press Eye

Welcome to Belfast Henrik Eriksson - a wicked wrister from the left circle on the powerplay beats McAdam - pretty good time to score your first goal as a Giant.

Image source, Press Eye

Alex Yuill takes a 'good' penalty to trip Steve Owre as he looked clear on a breakaway BUT it didn't take long for Owre to make Yuill pay as he scores on the resulting powerplay and it's 1-1 and we haven't played four minutes of the second period yet

Image source, Press Eye

Simple formula for the Flames - Peter Crinella forechecks Sam Ruopp, takes the puck away and finds Logan Fredericks out front and he buries his shot past Beskorowany. Flames deservedly in the lead.

Image source, Press Eye

Here we go....second period underway. Official shot count says Giants have the advantage 8-4. I don't think that reflects the game so far.

Image source, Press Eye

No goals in the opening twenty minutes but Guildford will be very happy with their start. Once again they are causing the Giants problems with their speed giving the home side no time on the puck, especially in the Giants defensive zone.

But they haven't found a way past Beskorowany yet....

McAdam has coughed up a couple of rebounds but the Giants are having to battle hard to create chances.

Image source, Press Eye

Five minutes to go in the first period. Shorthanded Giants almost took the lead on a Grant Cooper breakaway stopped by Eamon McAdam with David Gilbert unable to convert the rebound.

Image source, Press Eye

Tyler Beskorowany the busier of the two netminders but Giants with chances as well. Flames speed and forecheck causing Giants problems. Few stoppages as the halfway point approaches and Flames going on the powerplay

Image source, Press Eye

Still 18 games to go in the title race but a win for Guildford tonight would seriously dent the chances of the Giants retaining their championship.

Over 6,000 in the building - the home support know how big a game this is!

Buckle up....

Belfast Giants

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

Guildford Flames

G Eamon McAdam D Mike Crocock D Ben O'Connor RW Ryan Tait C Brett Ferguson LW Daniel Tedesco

Image source, BBC Sport

Welcome to the SSE Arena in Belfast where the Elite League leaders, Guildford Flames, are in town to take on the Belfast Giants.

Here's the situation - Guildford lead Cardiff by 5 points and Sheffield and Belfast by 6 points with 18 games remaining in the title chase.

Belfast and Guildford have three head-to-head match ups left so the Giants can catch the Flames with three wins but a win for Guildford tonight could seriously damage the current champions chance of winning the title again.

The two sides have met five times this season and Guildford have won four of those meetings including two in Belfast.

The Giants only win was the recent first leg of the Challenge Cup semi-final on the road which they took 4-0 and although Guildford responded by winning the second leg it wasn't enough to make the final which the Giants will host on March 1st.

So much at stake tonight for both sides....

Stay tuned - face-off in a few minutes!

To put you in the mood here's the climax of last Saturday night's win for the Giants over Sheffield...what a game that was.