Giants played really well especially in the final period to put the game to bed with three unanswered goals.

Blake Speers, Ben Lake and Kohei Sato added to the earlier goals from Matt McLeod and Daniel Tedesco.

All this coming after Mitch Cook had given Coventry the lead.

That the Blaze players and staff felt able to play this weekend's fixtures should be applauded in itself following the tragic passing of their Assistant Coach Dayle Keen earlier this week.

Back tomorrow night for Game 2 at 19:00 GMT

Image source, BBC Sport

An attempted dump-in ricochets off a stanchion and the puck almost comes to a stop at the top of the slot.

Sato swivels and drives it past Kozun.

Giants taking over the game.

Jacob Friend leaves the puck for Ben Lake to skate onto at the top of the slot and he pops the water bottle on top of the Blaze net. Absolute laser...

Blake Speers with the deflection from Will Cullen's shot and the Giants have a bit of daylight

The Giants are looking to the play-offs and to maintain third place in the league and this would be another big two points towards that goal.

Coventry need the points in the play-off chase.

Big 20 minutes ahead....

Image source, Press Eye

Two goals, two minutes apart turned the game in the Giants favour after the visitors had taken the lead.

Still all to play for with 20 minutes remaining

Image source, Press Eye

Suddenly the goals are pouring in.

Daniel Tedesco's backhand shot from the slot handcuffs Blaze goaltender Taran Kozun and the home team are in front.

Image source, Press Eye

Kohei Sato with the gorgeous saucer pass over the prone Blaze defenceman and onto the stick of Matt McLeod who has the easy finish

Image source, Press Eye

Jackson Whistle handles the first shot, he even stops Mitch Cook's rebound attempt but as the Giants stand and watch, Cook scores and the Blaze lead.

We're underway again looking for a goal.

Blaze out-shot the Giants 10-6 in the first period

Image source, Press Eye

There was play-off like intensity about the first period.

Coventry maybe in fifth place but are only 6 points ahead of ninth place Fife so a play-off place isn't guaranteed yet.

It's good physical hockey but who will make the break the tie?

Image source, Press Eye

Not a lot of chances to talk about.

Both sides playing the body and there's been some very physical play.

Players not being given a lot of time on the puck

Image source, press

Giants Ben Lake finishes his first shift of the game by sending Alessio Luciani head over heels and into his own bench.

That got the sell-out crowd into the game early.

Jackson Whistle gets his second start between the pipes in three nights for the Belfast Giants after beating the Dundee Stars 6-2 on Wednesday.

Taran Kozun is the starting netmnder for the Coventry Blaze.

The game is underway....

The SSE Arena observes a minute’s silence, followed by a minute’s applause, in memory of Coventry Blaze assistant coach Dayle Keen.

Read more here

Image source, BBC Sport

It's the first game of the weekend doubleheader between the Belfast Giants and Coventry Blaze.

However thoughts over the last few days have been very much about Blaze assistant coach Dayle Keen who sadly passed away this week.

'Keeno' had been part of the Blaze staff since 2018.

He was also appointed Assistant Coach of the men's Great Britain Under-20s in July 2019.

Dayle will be remembered at all Elite League games this weekend with a minute's silence followed by a minute's applause.

Image source, BBC Sport