Pelle was playing his first competitive game for the Giants after injuring himself pre-season, and it took him just 5 minutes to get on the scoresheet with a powerplay goal.

In a fast, frantic and physical first period both teams went close to adding to the scoreboard, but it wasn’t until the 14^th minute we had the next goal. Brad Voth was causing bedlam in the Belfast zone, and after he stole the puck along the boards off Doucet, he got the puck to Phil Hill who passed it on to Josh Batch at the blueline. As Batch took a slapshot, Voth had got himself back in front of the net to tip the puck past Stephen Murphy for the equaliser.

All square going into the second period, but that equality lasted just 34 seconds. Belfast forced a turnover in the Cardiff zone and when the puck was passed out in front of the net, Pelle was waiting and he fired past Lyle and into the top corner of the net.

Both sides were picking up penalty after penalty. After being sent to the ice by a huge Max Birbraer check, Adam Keefe went skating around the ice looking for a fight. Eventually, as he did in the previous game, he dropped his gloves and grabbed Voth to try to force him into a fight but once again Voth laughed him off and referee Andy Carson gave Keefe a 10 minute misconduct penalty.

Cardiff appeared to be getting stronger as the period went on and midway through they got the equaliser. Phil Hill and Ben Davies battled for the puck behind the net and got it back out in front to Scott Dobben who beat Murphy with a low shot along the ice.

It looked like Cardiff would go on and take control of the game but it was Belfast who stepped up a gear and the last two minutes of the period turned out to be crucial.

With Hill in the bin for holding, the Giants took full advantage of the powerplay, cycling the puck around until Mason was given time and space to pick his spot and blast the puck past Lyle to retake the lead.
Seconds later and Scott Matzka was sent to the bin. Though the Devils won the next faceoff, a horrible defensive mistake saw the puck go loose in front of the net and Pelle stole in to score and complete his hat-trick.

A disastrous end to the period got worse for Cardiff with confirmation that Captain Stuart MacRae had sustained an injury and would take no further part in the game.

Any hopes of a Devils comeback were dashed within two minutes of the restart. Derek LeBlanc’s shot from out wide hit the post and bounced clear only for it to hit the back of Birbraer’s leg and rebound back into the net.

Belfast added a sixth in the 48^th minute when Adam Keefe’s shot appeared to hit the post and crossbar before bouncing clear. The Devils argued furiously that the puck never crossed the line by referee Carson was close enough to award the goal himself.

With the game won, Belfast were able to ease themselves through the final ten minutes whilst the Devils will need to regroup this week and identify where vital improvements need to be made.