Nott to be for Giants at Panthers

Although Blake Speers grabbed his second goal in teal since his mid-season arrival, the Giants couldn’t add on any further and were handed their first defeat in three games by the East Midlands side.

First period

An impressive opening shift from the Giants saw them hem the Panthers back in their own zone and Ben Lake nearly beat Rok Stojanovic on the wraparound before Daniel Tedesco missed Speers’ centring feed by inches, but Nottingham forged ahead at 3:01 when Hugo Roy picked the top corner from the right circle. (1-0)

There was nothing Tyler Beskorowany could have done about the goal, but he went about keeping the deficit at one with a brilliant save to deny Otto Nieminen before a fantastic one-on-one stop as Anthony Luciani burst through unopposed, but once again there was little he could do when the Panthers doubled their lead at 13:58 on the powerplay, Mathieu Lemay ripping in a one-timer after a too many men call against the Giants. (2-0)

Despite the scoreline, the Giants were still controlling the play and Jacob Friend and Josh Roach both saw promising chances blocked away by Panthers defencemen, but they would trail by three at the break, Logan Nielson found all alone out in front by Roy, and he put away the shot at 18:02. (3-0)

Second period

Jackson Whistle took over in nets for the Giants at the start of the second period as Adam Keefe tried to spark his team into action. The visitors did get on the board at 24:44 when an accidental high sticking call against Nieminen allowed Speers to smash in the one-timer to reduce the deficit. (3-1)

Were it not for Stojanovic then the Giants could have scored on the second of Nieminen’s penalties, Matt McLeod denied twice by two superb saves and then Roach also blanked by the goaltender, and at the other end Whistle came up with his first massive save of the afternoon as Alexander Lunsjö broke in one-on-one.

Another two powerplay chances went begging for Belfast as Michael Caruso’s interference penalty and Joshua Tetlow’s boarding minor weren’t punished, with Whistle making another fine stop low down to deny Lunsjö again, but he was powerless to prevent Lemay’s second as the winger’s pass to the crease deflected off Speers and in for the Panthers’ fourth at 37:52. (4-1)

Third period

Both sides started the period with impressive kills, Nottingham seeing out Myles McGurty’s tripping minor held over from the second period while the Giants were able to play out a similar call on David Phillips, but the home side were doing well at closing down the opportunities.

And when the Panthers got their chance, they were ruthless, Jordan Kelsall racing away on the odd-man rush and dishing across for Anthony Luciani to finish backhanded around Whistle at 49:35 (5-1) to make sure the two points would be staying in Nottingham.

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants welcome the Dundee Stars to The SSE Arena, Belfast on Wednesday 28 February, before beginning March with a home double-header against the Coventry Blaze on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 March. Tickets are available here.