Comfortable enough in the end for the Giants.

Over 6,000 turned up on a school night and went home happy with goals from Matty McLeod (2), David Goodwin, Travis Brown, Ben Lake and Cameron Pound.

Chris McKay and Spencer Naas replied for the Stars.

It didn't feel like a 6-2 game. The Stars were in it for long periods and played well.

That being said the Giants, who even at this stage of the season are trying to find their best line-up, did more than enough to clinch the two points which kept them on target for a third place finish.

Next up a weekend doubleheader against the Coventry Blaze starting on Friday night at 19:00.

We'll be back for that one....

Cameron Pound pokes in the Giants sixth goal after his original effort sneaked through the pads of Kevin Carr

Both sides squandered powerplay chances and then onto the ice stepped Matt McLeod who used his speed to take the puck wide of the Stars defence and fired it past Kevin Carr.

6:40 to go

Image source, Press Eye

Perfectly timed hit from Will Cullen doesn't go down well with Stars Carter Johnson who drops his gloves and punches a reluctant Cullen.

Johnson gets 2+5+10 for instigation, Cullen five for 'fighting'

Giants on the powerplay looking to put this game to bed.

Twenty minutes remaining and I'm expecting a big push from the visitors at the start of the period.

If they can get within a goal it's game on

Image source, Press Eye

Jackson Whistle had to be very good to keep his team two goals ahead.

Dundee came on strongly after scoring and peppered Whistle especially during a powerplay.

Here comes tonight's cliche - next goal will be very important - you read it here first!

Image source, Press Eye

Giants in control, nothing much happening and suddenly one errant pass allows Chris McKay to hammer home the Starts second goal

Doesn't feel like a 4-1 game but it is after Daniel Tedesco finds David Goodwin without a Stars player anywhere near him for the simple tap-in

Here we go...back underway for period two

Image source, Press Eye

After the buzzer there's plenty of pushing and shoving behind the Stars net and Jacob Friend and Josh Brittain breakaway and drop the gloves.

Friend lands some powerful rights.

Both get five-minutes for fighting to start the second period

Image source, Press Eye

Giants fourth line chipping in with a goal.

Sean Norris assists with the scoring pass to Travis Brown

Image source, Press Eye

Didn't take long - 1:21 after the Giants went 2-0 up - for Dundee to get on the board.

Too easy from a Giants perspective, just a little give and go and Spencer Naas beat Jackson Whistle with the backhand shot

Image source, Press Eye

Didn't take very long - 49 seconds to be exact - for Josh Roach to pick out the cross ice pass to Ben Lake who beat Carr with the one-timer

Image source, Press Eye

Coming up to the halfway point of the first period and the Giants lead through a Matt McLeod goal after the hard work was done by Blake Speers and Bobby Macintyre

Image source, Press Eye

Ryan Valentini hits the crossbar for the Stars as they begin the first powerplay of the night.

However going the other way Blake Speers forces Kevin Carr into a good save.

Jackson Whistle gets the start for the Belfast Giants between the pipes this evening while Kevin Carr goes for the Dundee Stars.

Ara Nazarian also returns for the Giants tonight.

The puck is dropped and we are underway...

Welcome to the SSE Arena in Belfast for tonight's Elite League clash between the hometown Giants and the Dundee Stars.

While the Giants go into this week four points ahead of the Stars, having played one game fewer, they will doubtless be wary of being sucked down into the race for a playoff place.

Only 13 points separate the Giants, in third, from tenth-placed Nottingham Panthers, with at least 28 points left on the board for most teams - the Panthers could get more.

Belfast have won four of the six meetings between the teams so far this season across league and cup, while Dundee haven't won at the SSE Arena since December 2019.