MANCHESTER Storm suffered back-to-back defeats last weekend and sit second bottom of the Elite Ice Hockey League going into the final weekend before Christmas.

The Altrincham-based Storm went down 8-3 north of the border on Sunday against Dundee Stars.

Jason Gray put hosts ahead on the powerplay and Brett Switzer made it 2-0 at the Dundee Ice Arena, before Storm hit back through Matt Sisca and Ricards Birznish on the powerplay.

But Switzer completed his hat-trick with two quick goals and Bobby Chaumont made it 5-2.

Paul Phillips closed the gap for Storm to two but Dundee saw the game out with two goals from David Turon and one from Riley Wetmore.

The previous day, Storm lost 4-1 at home against Belfast Giants in what was an entertaining encounter.

The Giants planned to close down Storm on every break and it worked as they went 1-0 up thanks to an offensive zone turn over, leading to a David Lloyd goal 13 minutes into the first period.

Storm pushed for an equaliser but visiting stopper Stephen Murphy denied them time and again.

The second period began in the same fashion – Storm applying pressure and the Giants doing all they could to stop them. But they finally broke through with a fine goal thanks to a wonderful one-time pass from Grant Toulmin to Sisca who netted his 12th goal of the campaign.

However, Giants responded and were back in front less than a minute later.

The Storm battled hard to make something happen, but were just not able to get level again, and with less than 30 seconds remaining in the period Giants added another.

The Giants put the game to bed with six minutes gone in the third period to secure the points.

Storm visit Fife Flyers on Saturday before a home clash with second-placed Nottingham Panthers on Sunday, face off 5pm.