Wednesday: Giants take three-goal lead into Nottingham

Photo: Panthers Images

Belfast Giants will start with a three-goal aggregate advantage in the second leg of their Challenge Cup Semi-Final against Nottingham Panthers on Wednesday night.

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The sides meet in Nottingham after the Giants beat the Panthers 3-0 in Belfast a fortnight ago. That was the Giants third out of three win over the Panthers at the SSE Arena this season. However, Adam Keefe's team have been beaten on both of their trips to Nottingham so far this season, going down 3-2 in overtime, and 5-1. 

Nottingham head into this game off the back of a mixed week. They beat Manchester 3-1 on Sunday and picked up a point in Sheffield, but let a two-goal lead slip in both that game and Wednesday's home defeat by Guildford. Belfast picked up a pair of home wins over Cardiff Devils to go five points clear at the top of the table.

The prize on offer for the winner is a place in the 2025 Challenge Cup Final. However, for the Giants it's a little more than than - should they win through, they would host the final on 12 March at the SSE Arena in Belfast. The Panthers, meanwhile, are aiming to make their first Challenge Cup final since 2016 - if they get there, it will be played in Cardiff.

If the scores are tied on aggregate at the end of 60 minutes tonight, overtime will be played 3-on-3 for 10 minutes, sudden-death. If no winner is found, the series will be decided in a shootout. For clarity, there is no 'away goals' rule.