Nottingham Panthers claim Championship after victory over Giants

The 2012-13 Rapid Solicitors Elite League Championship winners are Nottingham following a 5-3 victory over their only realistic challengers that of the Belfast Giants.

The Giants netted only two points of the four points required thus losing the Elite League title after their double hitter with the Panthers.

Throughout the explosive game which never lost any of its drama starting from the get go when Panthers David Clarke and Brock Matheson (Giants) went toe to toe in a real slug fest, quickly followed by Daymen Rycroft (Giants) and Kelsey Wilson (Panthers) who also dropped the gloves, all inside the first six minutes.

Despite Nottingham having the better of the early possession, netminder Craig Kowalski had to be at his best to keep out Jeff Mason and Noah Clarke with Belfast creating the better chances. Noah Clarke gave Belfast the lead on a penalty shot but Panthers responded with a powerplay goal from Bruce Graham from the right circle only 20 seconds later.

The Giants made a great start to the second period when Kevin Saurette scored after finishing off a well-worked move, however the Panthers hit back quickly again with David Clarke netting.

Nottingham then took the lead through David Ling’s patient finish however this time it was Belfast’s turn to come from behind as Adam Keefe netted on a breakaway after a terrific pass from Craig Peacock just before the second period hooter.

Finally Nottingham got their noses out in front again scoring first by Pat Galivan and Matt Francis put the icing on the cake with an empty-net goal with only seconds left on the clock giving the Panthers both the win and the Title 5-3. The huge travelling Panther’s contingent went wild with the celebrations going on to late in to the Belfast night.

In the second leg of the double hitter, which could have been a damp squid, Nottingham’s 12 game winning run came to an end.

Belfast took the game by the scruff of the neck in the opening twenty minutes with goals from Andrew Fournier on the powerplay followed by Rob Sandrock’s booming slap shot to make it 2-0.

Frustration from the previous night on both sides was still simmering under the surface, before it boiled over with Nottingham’s Jason Beckett receiving a five minute penalty for cross checking, plus another five for fighting then a game misconduct.

On the Giants side Captain Adam Keefe received two minutes for instigating, five minutes for fighting plus a ten minute misconduct. Darryl Lloyd also got two minutes for slashing. On the resulting powerplay the Panthers netted their first goal through Bruce Graham in the second period

The Giants pulled off the decisive blow in the first four minutes of the third period with Belfast sealing the victory. First Daymen Rycroft followed by the Man of the Match scoring his second of the night through Sandrock. It certainly looked a done deal. However Nottingham quickly replied scoring off the stick of David Ling to put the Panthers back into the game. Belfast had to dig deep to secure the contest with a goal from Kevin Saurette to conclude the victory 5-2

Coach Christiansen stated after the weekend’s play: “Both the team and I are very disappointed with the loss of the title but we are still in the Conference race tied on points with the Panthers. Nottingham played with more consistency throughout the season and the away loss to Edinburgh was the killer blow to us last week.

“Now we have only one cup to compete for this season that of the Play-off Trophy. However I can’t fault the team, as they always left nothing in the dressing room or on the ice. They always gave everything they had. That’s hockey! Sometimes you win when you should have lost and the reverse is true as well. The best team in the Elite League this season is Nottingham Panthers,” concluded Christansen.

The Giants play their last two games of the season away to Coventry and Sheffield where the conference title will be won or lost Meanwhile coach Christiansen now faces the huge task of picking the players he wants to return for next season’s play and get ready for the Play-offs.