Belfats Giants 2 Nottingham Panthers 1

Giants moved three points clear in the league standings as they inflicted Panthers first league loss in a close encounter at the Odyssey.

With two of the more fancied teams in the Elite League this year this was never going to be a wide open game with both sides keen to give nothing away throughout. A cagey start but an explosion at 11.44 as an incident involving Panther Brock Wilson and Giant Brock McBride saw both ejected on 5 + games for slashing and high sticks respectively.

Shortly after it was the home side who took the lead when Benoit Doucet fired home at 15.46 on the powerplay, giving his side the first period edge.

Panthers were back on terms early in the second with Jordan Fox finding the target at 22.07 but Doug Christiansen’s men were back in front at 36.37 thanks to a strike by Craig Peacock.

That is how it all ended up with neither side able to add to their tally in the third period but the result was always in doubt as both sides went close.

Period Scores; 1-0, 1-1, 0-0
Penalty Mins: Bel 35 – Not 39
Powerplay: Bel 1/7 – Not 0/5
Shots On: Stephen Murphy 27 – Craig Kowalski 25

Referee: Michael Hicks