Giants down Devils to remain on Blaze's trail

 JEFF Szwez's fine double helped Belfast Giants to a dominant victory over Cardiff Devils and close the gap on league leaders Coventry Blaze to just a solitary point.

Szwez netted twice as the Northern Ireland outfit shut out the Devils and while the Blaze still have two games in hand, they will be feeling the pressure against Nottingham Panthers on Saturday.

Should the Panthers prove victorious, it would throw the title race wide open, with all three teams within two points of each other and Giants coach Steve Thornton is only too aware of the importance of the match.

 "We'll be cheering on Nottingham," said Thornton.

"We'll worry about who finishes second and third later on because we want to take care of our business and force this title race down to the very last game against Coventry.

"But I'll certainly want to know the score in Nottingham."

The Giants set about their task efficiently against Coventry and took an early lead in the fifth minute when his strike deflected off a Cardiff stick, leaving Stevie Lyle helpless in between the pipes.

Neither side could find a way through for the remainder of the first period, as well as the second, and with less than five minutes remaining the Giants had a huge let off when Max Birbraer hit the post with the net gaping.

But with just over a minute remaining Szwez was on hand to make the points safe after a fine turnover and pass from Pat Bateman.