THE Belfast Giants took another step towards the top of the Elite League table with their seventh straight win in the competition as they defeated the Fife Flyers 3-1 at the SSE Arena.
Goals from Ben Lake, David Gilbert and a first of the season for Mark Garside earned Adam Keefe's side the two points and moves them to within five points of the league-leading Guildford Flames, albeit having played a game more than their rivals.
They got an excellent 21-save performance from netminder Peyton Jones, too, the American continuing his recent resurgence between the pipes and keeping the Flyers, who were much better than the side that lost 8-0 in Belfast exactly a week prior, at bay.
New signing Donovan Neuls was inserted straight into the line-up and nearly scored with his first touch of the puck in a Giants jersey, the centre tipping a Matt Foley shot in on goal that Shane Owen - 36 saves - did well to deflect away early doors, but the home side wouldn't be denied for long.
When the goal came, it was a beauty, Josh Roach driving a pass into the right circle for Ben Lake rushing off the bench and the centre made it two goals in as many games with a one-timer from the face-off dot that squeezed through the pads of Owen at 11:13.
Fife should have been level at the intermission, though, as a defensive breakdown saw Liam Blackburn find Chris Lawrence completely alone at the crease, but Jones produced a superb point blank stop to keep the visitors off the board.
But it would take them just 47 seconds of the second period for the Flyers to tie it up and it came in a scramble at the crease, the Scottish side having several stabs at the puck before it broke for Zack Phillips, who buried it for the tying goal.
A nip-and-tuck game looked to be swinging either way, but it would be Belfast who would strike next and it came from an unlikely source in Garside, who drove the net and supplied the tip to Roach's pass for the game-winner at 31:10.
Still Fife continued to press, however, and they nearly had a second tying goal when Janne Laakkonen went on the breakaway only for Jones to close the door five-hole and take the hosts to the first intermission with the narrow lead.
It was Belfast who had the first chance of the final period on the powerplay as Brayden Sherbinin sat for delay of game, but they couldn't make the most of the extra skater, however it wouldn't be long before they made the game secure.
The goal came at 49:22 and once again it was the fourth line that did the damage, winger Sean Norris getting his first point in a Giants jersey by handing the puck to Garside, who reversed it back in front for Gilbert who beat Owen shortside to end the game as a contest.
Fife did have a chance to make it interesting when Scott Conway was called for a hook, but the Giants were able to comfortably play out the powerplay and prevent another nervy finish at the SSE Arena, as well as limiting the Flyers' chances when Owen was pulled for the extra skater in the final 90 seconds.
The two sides meet again on New Year's Eve for their third meeting in nine days, with the Giants trying to close out a perfect festive period and take another step towards the top of the standings.
