Hull crushed by rampant Giants

The result did nothing for Hull's hopes of avoiding finishing bottom of the regular season Elite League table as they remain nine points adrift of seventh-placed Newcastle Vipers with just seven games remaining.

A Pat Bateman brace set title-chasing Belfast on their way inside the first 10 minutes before a powerplay strike at 17.22 from Jeff Szwez saw the period end 3-0 to the home side.

As a ragged Stingrays struggled to find a way back into the game, three more goals followed in the second period, the first another strike on the powerplay from Evab Cheverie at 23.18.

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Then, two goals in the space of just over a minute put Belfast put the game beyond doubt and, with it, Stingrays already fading hopes of finishing bottom of the Elite League table.

The fifth came from the stick of Pierre-Luc Faubert at 32.27, again on the powerplay and then Michael Jacobsen stretched the lead to 6-0 at 33.45.

Sean McMorrow, Craig Peacock and Bateman added further goals in a third period which saw Hull goaltender Martins Raitums turn away another 18 shots.

It was the fifth time Stingrays have been blanked this term – a league high - and it was their eighth successive away defeat.

Saturday sees them travel to Newcastle - the only team they can possibly overhaul in the table - before welcoming Nottingham Panthers to Hull Arena on Sunday (6pm).