The Giants kept alive their Elite League title hopes with two weekend victories

The Belfast Giants are now only a point behind Elite League leaders Coventry after achieving another comeback win over Sheffield on Saturday night.

After a stunning 5-4 home victory over the Steelers on Friday night, the Giants recovered from 3-1 down to win 6-5 in Sheffield on Saturday.

Coventry lost 7-2 in Nottingham so the Giants are only a point off the pace although Blaze have two games in hand.

Pat Bateman scored two of the Giants goals in Saturday's clash.

Bateman cancelled out Jeff Legue's opener for Sheffield but strikes by Joe Talbot and Scott Basiuk put the Steelers 3-1 up.

Jeff Szwez and Evan Cheverie then scored to level matters by the end of the first period before Talbot restored Sheffield's lead.

Tim Cook and Bateman's second goal put the Giants ahead for the first time and while Legue levelled early in the final period, Colin Shields hit the winner with just under five minutes left.

Belfast's win puts them on 63 points although Nottingham are only two points behind the Giants after their thumping success over Coventry.

Both Belfast and Nottingham have played 48 games - two more than the leaders.

The Giants kept the title hopes alive by coming from 4-1 down to beat Sheffield 5-4 on Friday.

Jonathan Phillips and Jonathan Zion put the visitors 2-0 up and Craig Peacock replied before Doug Sheppard and Joey Talbot made it 4-1.

The comeback started with a Michael Jacobsen goal and Tm Cook chipped in the Giants' third goal.

Cheverie then equalised and in a frantic finish he scored the winner with just 9.9 seconds left.

The Giants now have a seven-day break before their game against Edinburgh at the Odyssey next Saturday.

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