League leaders Belfast Giants face second-placed Sheffield Steelers on Friday night with the run-in for the league title very much on the line at the SSE Arena.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Steelers, who were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by the Nottingham Panthers on Wednesday night. They head into Belfast needing to make up a six-point gap on the Giants with only 13 games, including tonight, remaining. With the first tie-break being regulation wins – where Belfast currently hold a four-game advantage – Sheffield effectively begin the night seven points behind their hosts.
The Giants extended their lead at the top last weekend with a pair of wins and results elsewhere going in their favour. Belfast have won six of their last eight games and have not been beaten on home ice in regulation all season. Their home record stands at an impressive 15-2-2-0, with at least three goals scored in every home game since 12 December.
Sheffield have lost their last two away games and have just two wins from their last seven road trips in all competitions. They were beaten by a combined score of 12-2 on visits to the SSE Arena in January and haven’t won there since January 2025.
Belfast boast the league’s best power play at 30.11%, followed by the Steelers on 25.77%. On the penalty kill, Sheffield lead the way at 88.37%, while the Giants sit sixth at 79.07%.
Photo: William Cherry
