Printz wins it in OT to put Giants into Final

Photo: William Cherry

Belfast Giants will get a chance to defend their 2023 Playoff trophy after a Greg Printz overtime winner put them into this season's final.

In a tight game played in front of a sold-out crowd at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, all of the action happened in the final 25 minutes of regulation.

Blake Speers capped a passing play off Printz' feed to put the Giants ahead with 2:03 left in the second period.

Cardiff had struggled to get much going on two earlier powerplays in the game, but a Cross-Checking call on Mark Cooper with 3:57 to go in the third gave them a late chance to tie things up. Cody Donaghey obliged with a one-timer into the top corner of Jackson Whistle's net 41 seconds into the advantage to tie the game at 56:44. 

Overtime was cagey with neither side wanting to risk losing the puck and being broke against the other way. Eventually, Ben Lake's shot was saved but Printz got on the rebound in close to beat Ben Bowns with a bar-down finish and send the Giants through at 63:05.