Giants three up on Panthers after first leg

Photo: William Cherry

Belfast Giants will take a three-goal lead to Nottingham in the second leg of their Challenge Cup Semi-Final after a shutout win against the Panthers at a sold out SSE Arena on Wednesday night.

"I thought we were really good tonight," began Giants captain Mark Cooper, who scored his side's opening goal. "We knew they would push. They're a great team and we were able to keep them pretty quiet and defend hard, then take our chances when we had them and get a three-goal lead going into the second leg. But they have a firepower team so we just have to keep playing the same way in the second leg."

After a cagey start, the Giants began to generate more pressure, and it was the home side who opened the scoring as Mark Cooper scored a brilliant solo goal to put the hosts ahead. Cooper drove from his own defensive zone, skipped by a defenseman, and finished through the five hole of Jason Grande at 8:51.

Belfast doubled their lead at 14:28 through a wonderful Ciaran Long goal. The Panthers were caught on a change, which allowed Elijiah Barriga to pick out Long with a pass into the slot. Long produced an excellent backhanded finish into the roof of the net to double the Giants' lead. 

The Panthers' best chance of the opening period fell to Reid Stefanson while the score was 1-0, as he found himself with only Whistle to beat. However, Whistle denied Stefanson to maintain the lead for the Giants - a common theme as the evening progressed.

Both sides had chances in the second period, but both Whistle and Grande made big saves to deny each team. The Giants and Panthers each had one powerplay. However, neither could take advantage to leave the Giants two goals ahead going into the third. In the end, the period probably ended how both sides would have wanted - no further goals against for the Panthers, and the Giants still with a two-goal lead.

Nottingham started period three the stronger and had seome sustained pressure for some five to six minutes, but without success. Mark Cooper again got in behind the Panthers' defense and shot on net, but although Grande made the save he couldn't stop Jordan Kawaguchi following up to slot home the rebound - the Giants likely to be awarded a penalty shot on the play anyway for a stick thrown towards cooper as he skated on net.

"We saw it in the other game with Cardiff being up 4-1 that it's not all over just because you have a first-leg lead," added Cooper. "Nottingham have beaten us 5-1 at home, so they're very capable in their own building. Their fans will be roaring, and it's a hard building to play in, so we're going to put our focus back on the league for a couple of weeks then we'll be ready to go a few Wednesdays from now."

A penalty on Jeff Baum in the final eight minutes gave the Panthers a late chance to get on the board, but despite taking their time-out to draw up a play they couldn't beat Whistle. Ben Lake almost gifted the visitors a goal with a loose breakout pass, but against Whistle was there for the hosts.

Belfast held on for the 3-0 win and will head to Nottingham as favourites to progress - however, they've not won yet this season in that building.