Steve Thornton scored in both Giants fixtures

The Belfast Giants made up considerable ground on Elite League leaders Coventry Blaze by winning away matches against Nottingham and Manchester this weekend.

The Giants followed up their 7-6 win over Nottingham on Saturday night with a 4-3 win over Manchester on Sunday.

Paul Deniset was the hat-trick hero for the Giants, with player-coach Steve Thornton also on the scoresheet.

Goals from David Beauregard and two from Adam Walker helped Manchester to a 3-2 lead before a Deniset double salvo.

The Giants got the better of Nottingham Panthers in a 13-goal thriller on Saturday night.

The visiting Giants led 2-0 through Evan Cheverie and Bobby Robins, James Ferrara replied, but George Awada and Andrew Martin made it 4-1 to Belfast.

David Clarke pulled one back but Cheverie and Steve Thornton replied.

Kevin Bergin, Dan Tessier, Clarke and Bruce Richardson scored to level at 6-6 but Robins secured the late winner.

Belfast led 2-0 at the end of the first period and 4-2 at the conclusion of the second.

Two further goals appeared to put the game beyond Nottingham's reach but the Panthers fought back to pull level before Robins' late goal.

Leaders Coventry Blaze lost 4-1 to Sheffield Steelers on Saturday night and by the same scoreline to Basingstoke Bison on Sunday evening.

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