Three wins in the opening 11 games has been turned around and Ed Courtenay's side are on the tails of leaders Coventry Blaze after an 11th successive victory last night.

The win means the Giants are now just five points off the lead and although Coventry have three games in hand the pressure is all on them to win those matches.

Mark Dutiaume, Shane Johnson and Pete Campbell's empty netter clinched the victory for the home side in a somewhat ill-tempered game, but the Giants have showed in the last couple of matches that they are prepared to fight for points - and literally if needs be.

It took the Giants until the second period to move into the lead and once they got that opening goal things went from there.

Dutiaume has switched between attack and defence this season, meaning he hasn't been as prolific in front of the net as he has been in previous campaign's, but last night's strike took him to 11 goals for the season, with only three other Giants scoring more.

When Johnson doubled the lead there was no way back for the Vipers, who even took the gamble of pulling goaltender Ryan McDonald in the closing minutes in a push for an equaliser.

That move failed and with virtually no time left Campbell knocked in his 29th goal in 26 games for the Giants to secure both points in regulation time. The Giants now face Manchester at home on Saturday before a trip to Nottingham on Sunday, while Coventry face home and away battles against the Cardiff Devils.