Giants edge into Cup Final after valiant Panthers fightback
Photo: Panthers Images
Nottingham Panthers were a goal away from making up a 0-3 aggregate deficit against Belfast Giants, but the visitors held on in the closing stages to advance to the Challenge Cup Final 3-2 on aggregate.
5,263 fans saw the Panthers win 2-0 on the night at the Motorpoint Arena, but fall just short.
Period one was a very cagey affair. The Giants out-shot that hosts 15-5 but neither side forced any clear-cut chances. Elijiah Barriga took a skate to the chin and left the ice but was thankfully back playing by the final period.
Jason Grande stopped an early breakaway as the Giants had an early chance to open the scoring at the start of period two. The Giants then ran into penalty trouble and fell behind when Zsombor Garát shot from the point off a faceoff win went all the way though and past Whistle at 32:17. The Panthers then enjoyed two further powerplays and hit a post, as well as having a bouncing puck kicked off the line by Josh Roach to stay two ahead on aggregate.
The Giants had a decent spell of pressure themselves towards the end of the period, their first sustained offensive zone time in the game. JJ Piccinich’s shot in the slot came back off the post although Grande may have got a toe to it as well.
The Panthers got a dream start to period three by scoring after just 37 seconds - a Cooper Zech shot from a tight angle snuck its way past Whistle to make it 2-0 on the night, and bring the hosts back to within one on aggregate. The Giants saw a Tim Doherty minor pass without being able to increase their lead, and became more and more on the back foot as the game entered the final stages. Whistle made two excellent saves, while a number of scrambles around the crease saw the Panthers one stick away from tying things. Mitch Fossier didn't make full contact with a one-timer in one of the Panthers' best chances with six skaters after pulling Grande with 1:49 to go, but in the end the visitors held on and narrowly advanced to the Challenge Cup Final.
