Wed 12 Feb 2025 - 9:15PM

12TH FEBRUARY 2025: GIANTS 3-0 PANTHERS

🎟 NEXT AT HOME: SAT 15TH FEB (7PM) v COVENTRY - BUY TICKETS 🎟

Nottingham Panthers were beaten 3-0 by Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland in the first leg of the Challenge Cup semi-final.

Quinn Wichers, who has been out of action since Boxing Day, returned to the line-up but Ryan Bednard and Cooper Zech missed the game through injury.

Jason Grande was between the pipes for the Panthers with Luca Sheldon as back-up.

Giants score twice in first period
The hosts went ahead through a superb solo goal by Mark Cooper who went coast-to-coast before sliding the puck under Grande (08:51).

Reid Stefanson pulled a great forehand-backhand move to beat Jackson Whistle but his shot hit the side-netting, while Hugo Roy went close as Panthers had their best spell of the period.

Belfast took a two-goal lead to the first intermission as Elijiah Barriga set-up Ciaran Long in the slot (14:28).

No goals in end-to-end second session
Grande made two huge double-saves just after the restart, but Panthers grew into the game the longer the period went on.

Sam Herr and Otto Nieminen went close in quick succession and soon after on a powerplay, Herr at the backdoor just failed to get his stick on a great pass by Kristoff Kontos.

The Nottingham captain also had two clever tips saved by former Panther Jackson Whistle as Danny Stewart's side ended their period strong.

Belfast take three-goal first-leg lead
Grande came up big to make a save to deny ​Pierre-Olivier Morin in the opening stages of the third period.

Matt Spencer and Nieminen had good chances for the Panthers, before Belfast scored their third when Grande saved Cooper's effort but Jordan Kawaguchi buried the rebound (47:48).

Panthers killed-off a late penalty to keep the deficit at three going into the second leg in Nottingham on Wednesday 26th February (7:30pm).

Next at home: Saturday (7pm) v Coventry Blaze
Our next action at home is this Saturday (15th February) against Coventry Blaze (7pm face-off).

The game is sponsored by Lincs Air Testing with two huge Elite League points on the line at the Motorpoint Arena.

Very limited tickets remain so you're urged to secure your seats as soon as possible before they're all gone!

🎟 NEXT AT HOME: SAT 15TH FEB (7PM) v COVENTRY - BUY TICKETS 🎟