Kevin Riehl kept alive Belfast Giants' hopes of retaining the Superleague title with an over-time winner in the 4-3 victory over Sheffield Steelers on Friday evening.

Having been held to a 2-2 draw at home by Sheffield on Thursday, champions Belfast knew defeat would leave them with a mountain to climb in the title race.

They were both given a further boost when fellow title rivals Nottingham Panthers suffered an 8-3 defeat at London Knights.

Belfast came out of the traps flying and were 2-0 up inside seven minutes through Shane Johnson and Doug MacDonald, who scored for the second successive night.

But Steelers fought back and Jason Sessa cut the deficit before Rod Stevens restored Belfast's two-goal cushion.

A bad Belfast line change allowed Sessa to score his second of the night and Rick Brebant forced overtime, when Riehl popped up with the crucial game-winning goal.

Dave Whistle: Belfast Giants coach

Panthers, meanwhile, suffered a costly Challenge Cup hangover as their title hopes wilted in the capital.

Paul Adey's side, beaten by Sheffield in the showdown at the MEN Arena last Sunday, suffered an early blow when defenceman Eric Charron was forced out of the game after taking a puck to the chest.

Ian McIntyre put London ahead in the 17th minute, Todd Wetzel levelled but Kim Ahlroos, back after a five-game absence, restored the hosts' lead within 19 seconds.

Nottingham had a goal disallowed by referee Dave Cloutman in the final minute of the opening period for high sticks.

The second period belonged to Knights with Sean Blanchard netting a double before London's Gerad Adams and Barry Nieckar of Nottingham received fighting majors.

Former National Hockey League forward Ed Patterson netted his first goal for the Knights on the powerplay, Panthers' Dody Wood sitting out a minor roughing penalty, before Marc Hussey pulled one back for the visitors.

Vezio Sacratini claimed a third-period brace and Greg Burke bagged an eighth for London with captain John Purves replying for poor Panthers, who were outshot 45-18.

It means Sheffield are now two points clear of Nottingham having played the same number of games while Belfast are a further point behind - but with a match in hand.