Panthers v Giants

Match Report

A scintillating third period helped Nottingham Panthers beat Belfast Giants 5-1 in the Elite League in-front of another large Motorpoint Arena crowd.

Ryan Bednard started between the pipes with Luca Sheldon as back-up. Cooper Zech was the only absentee from the line-up as he continues his recovery from a lower body injury.

Roy and Kontos secure Panthers a first-period lead
A great opening shift saw Nottingham go close when Otto Nieminen fed Hugo Roy in the slot but his shot was saved by former Panther Jackson Whistle.

Panthers went ahead on the powerplay as Roy cut inside from the right and lasered his shot past Whistle's near-post (7:28), before Kristoff Kontos fired through the five-hole on a penalty-shot after Didrik Henbrant was hauled back on a breakaway (16:40).

At the other end, Bednard made a number of top-class saves including one to deny Pierre-Olivier Morin after he found space left-hand side.

Belfast make it a one-goal game
Reid Stefanson hit the bar on a Panthers powerplay, but Belfast reduced the arrears when Ben Lake scored from the left-circle (32:19).

Bednard was the busier of the two netminders in the second period and made a number of top-class saves to keep it a one-goal game at the second intermission.

Superb third period secures victory for Panthers
Henbrant just failed to get a stick on a pass to the backdoor, while Sam Herr and Nieminen also went close in the third period.

Momentum swung when Panthers took advantage of Belfast's indiscipline to score twice on the powerplay in 37 seconds.

Tim Doherty netted at the backdoor on the five-on-three (52:29) and Herr scored from close range on the one-man advantage (53:06).

Stefanson put the seal on the victory with an empty-net goal from his own zone with Whistle lifted for the extra skater (57:34).