Belfast Giants kept the Elite League title clearly in their sights and recorded their sixth straight home win with a 9-0 shutout of Hull Stingrays.
The victory bodes well for the Giants, who must win all their matches from now until the end of the season to be in with a chance of knocking Coventry from the top spot in the standings.
Hull, who have now been blanked twice by Giants in Northern Ireland this season and have lost their last eight road games, remain in the league basement some nine points behind closest rivals Newcastle.
Hat-trick
Pat Bateman starred for the home side, netting a brace within the first ten minutes before making it a hat-trick with just two minutes remaining.
The opening goal came with 6.45 on the clock as Bateman scored his first of the night for Giants before doubling the lead at 9.52.
Jeff Szwez added another for the hosts on the powerplay at 17.22, then the Giants really hit their stride in the second period, netting a further three goals.
The first came from Evan Cheverie on the powerplay at 23.18 to make it 4-0, before Pierre-Luc Faubert and Michael Jacobsen scored two goals just over a minute apart at 32.27 on the powerplay and 33.45 to expand the lead.
Giants soared into the final session 6-0 ahead and despite the best efforts of goaltender Martins Raitums, who turned away 18 of the 21 shots on him, the hosts managed to add three more before the buzzer.
Sean McMorrow stretched the lead to 7-0 at 46.07 before Craig Peacock fired home another at 49.51.
Bateman wrapped up the victory for Giants at 58.09 with his hat trick marker to close out a dismal night for the Stingrays.
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