After a number of tense games against Guildford, Nottingham, Cardiff and Sheffield recently the Giants could have been forgiven for coming out a little flat but that certainly wasn't the case.

They looked hungry in the first period and those five goals closed the game out early. While they took their foot off the accelerator in the second period they responded well in the third.

They head into the international break next weekend just two points behind Guildford at the top of the league. The 4-team race that includes Cardiff and Sheffield looks set to be one of the most exciting ever.

Fife's play-off hopes will not be determined by games against sides like Belfast. Their biggest game of the season comes on Feb 15th when they take a 3-2 lead to Sheffield in the second leg of the Challenge Cup semi-final.

Not sure the puck went in of Steve Owre's stick, more of his body but they all count and the Giants do finish with that flourish!

Giants waste no time in responding with Eriksson's nifty deflection from Bast's pass making it 8-4. Josh Roach getting credit for the Giants earlier effort that was originally credited to the Swedish player.

Straight from a face-off at the beginning of a powerplay, Liam MacDougall rifles a wrist shot into the top corner

Turnover by the Giants behind their own goal line leaves Zak Phillips all alone and although Andrew Dickson gets a piece of the puck it trickles into the bet

Local hero Andrew Dickson takes over from Jackson Whistle in goal for the Giants.

Well if Gabe Bast felt aggrieved at Shane Owen he responded in the best possible way. He exits the penalty box, takes a pass from Grant Cooper, breaks in alone and beats Owen who now gets serenaded by the home fans.

Gabe Bast goes coast-to-coast and makes minimal contact with Shane Owen while skating past. The netminder collapses to the ice and Lucas Sandstorm takes exception at Bast. A crowd gathers but nothing, other than a penalty to Bast comes of it. Home crowd boos Owen, presumably for making a meal out of the contact.

The Giants are 20 minutes away from a four point weekend and closing the gap to Guildford to just two points at the top of the Elite League. Will they finish with a flourish?

A somewhat muted atmosphere in the SSE Arena throughout that second period. Credit the Flyers for not giving up and getting a couple of goals. The Giants found it difficult to play with the same level of aggression as the first period when they have essentially won the game but Jeff Baum's finish was sublime.

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The home fans got on their feet to appreciate a great finish from Jeff Baum. He takes a saucer pass from Steve Owre and on the half volley buries the one-timer past Shane Owen into the corner of the net. It's Baum's first goal of the season in 45 games.

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Fife get another goal as Bari McKenzie is on the doorstep to knock in a rebound. It's very quiet inside the SSE Arena at the moment.

Not a lot of intensity from the Giants to start the second period and Fife take advantage by getting on the board with a goal from Zack Phillips who has an empty net to shoot out after the original effort from Liam MacDougall hits a Giants defenceman leaving Jackson Whistle out of position.

Amazing this game - Giants only scored two goals in their last two games against Guildford and Sheffield and won them both. Today, in 20 minutes, they net five.

There looks to be no way back for Fife but we shall see....

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The first period comes to an end, mercifully, for the Fife Flyers. The Giants have been ruthless and having had a run of tens, tight games against their title rivals have taken it out on the league's ninth place team.

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The goals continue to flow as a Josh Roach shot from the blueline on the powerplay hits Henrik Eriksson and floats past Shane Owen

The offensive explosion continues for the Giants. Scott Conway breaks free, forces a save from Shane Owen but Conway retrieves the puck and with the Fife netminder out of position finds David Goodwin who has an empty net to shoot at.

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Great forecheck from Ben Lake, Lewis Hook and Mark Cooper as they keep the puck in the Fife zone for an age and eventually they set up Gabe Bast for the one timer.

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The Giants fast start continues as Henrik Eriksson's shot comes off the glove of Owen and Mark Cooper bundles the puck into the net.

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Early strike for the Giants - Shot from Gabe Bast, big rebound from Shane Owen's pad and Steve Owre slots home.