The Belfast Giants kept their Elite League hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over the Cardiff Devils at the Odyssey Arena on Friday night.
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Jeffrey Szwez was the man responsible for both goals scoring in the first and third periods to take his tally to 33 so far this season.
It was also a good night for goaltender Stephen Murphy as he recorded his seventh shut out of the season. He has now shut out five of the teams in the league with only Coventry and Sheffield still on his radar.
Szwez opened the scoring after a tight first period when he netted on the powerplay at 4.35.
The second period saw both teams up the ante with 28 shots attempted, 16 for the home team and 12 for the visitors.
But GB goaltenders Murphy and Stevie Lyle turned everyone of them away.
Inside the first minute of the third period the Giants had a great chance to increase their lead as Jay Latulippe was binned on a 2+2 for accidental high sticks.
But Cardiff kept themselves in the game as they killed off the four minute penalty.
Any chance Cardiff had of sending the game into overtime was killed off as Szwez netted his second of the game at 58.53.
The Giants are now three points behind table toppers Coventry but have played an extra game.
Coventry play the Nottingham Panthers on Saturday night while the Giants next game is against the Edinburgh Capitals on Sunday evening at the Odyssey.
(Match report from www.belfastgiants.com)
* Picture: Michael Cooper
© UTV News