Giants into Final - Grand Slam still on!

Photo: Dean Woolley

Belfast Giants' hopes of a 2022/23 Grand Slam are still very much on after a commanding 6-3 win over Nottingham Panthers in the first Semi-Final of the 2023 Viaplay Playoff Finals Weekend.

A Steve Orew shot through a screen gave the Giants the lead after just 2:07 against Nottingham Panthers, who were very slow out of the blocks. Sean Norris poked home a rebound to double the lead at 5:12, before Ben Lake made it three with under ten minutes played.

Jake Hopkins neatly finished past Tyler Beskorowany, who had earlier pulled off an excellent glove save from a David Levin shot in close, to get the Panthers back to within two.

A terrible Mike Caruso giveaway allowed David Goodwin the easy finish at 24:49 as the Giants went back three ahead, cut back down to two by Stephen Anderson on the 33-minute mark. Lake added a second at 47:31 before Jakub Ižacký again pulled the Panthers back to within two at 51;41, but that differential lasted barely a minute until Norris made it 6-3 with 7:08 left to play.