What Katy Did Next: EIHL Playoffs Part III

Following on from yesterday’s second part to Katy Parles’ adventures in Nottingham last weekend at the EIHL Playoff Finals weekend. We hear the final part of Katy’s trip, and also her thoughts and feelings about the whole experience, together with the good, the bad and the ugly.

If you missed the previous instalment – catch up right here.

Playoff Sunday…continued

Nottingham Panthers v Belfast Giants

It was the final that most Elite League fans had been hoping for. A battle between the top two sides in the league; this season’s league champions versus last season’s. A monumental, winner-takes-all clash between the might of this season’s all-conquering Nottingham Panthers side and Erhardt conference winners the Belfast Giants who, in the words of their coach, had come to ‘wreck Nottingham’s party.’

The build-up to the game was brilliant as always, with montages, lights, skating ladies with flags, anthems and all the usual ceremonial proceedings. The tension in the building was palpable. The Panthers represented the majority of the crowd but the Giants fans were certainly making their presence felt.

The first play of the main event was a breakaway by Craig Peacock just seconds into the game. He was brought down allowing Belfast to go on the powerplay early, Craig Kowalski forced to throw himself around to keep the puck out of the net. It was a lively start, which promised much. Shortly after, Pat Galivan broke away with Panthers short-handed but the Giants defence took him out, Darryl Lloyd literally defending the pick with his body. Going the other way, the wily Panthers had a play which drew Stephen Murphy out of his net – they missed the open net and Bruce Graham ended up on his face. It would have taken a slow motion replay to figure out what had just happened such was the lightning pace of the opening minutes of the game, but the Giants found themselves on the penalty kill.

The Panthers powerplay exploded into life, some great build-up play leading to multiple attempts on goal that had Stephen Murphy diving and smothering pucks left, right and centre. This was playoff hockey! A solid penalty kill from the Giants was followed by a sustained period of pressure from the home side, forcing some fantastic defending and netminding as well as some blood and thunder hits from Darryl Lloyd (who else?) all within a 20 second period. It was breath-taking stuff, Murphy already playing a blinder. There was little in the way of Giants pressure but they were soaking up Nottingham’s wave after wave of attack and looking solid. Greg Stewart took matters into his own hands and had a good effort, and at the other end Brandon Benedict shot wide before sliding skates-first into the boards.

It was end to end stuff, the puck poached by the Giants who had a great effort before the counter attack came from Panthers, forcing a save from Murphy. Darryl Lloyd finally saw the wrong end of a check, taken out by Jason Beckett who was sent to the penalty box for his troubles. The resulting powerplay would take up almost the last two minutes of play in the period. It produced a couple of shots on goal but nothing to write home about, and the first period ended scoreless, although the Panthers would undoubtedly be the happier of the two sets of fans.

I engaged in a deeply scientific experiment during the break and can report that it takes exactly one period break to procure and consume a single snack-sized tub of Ben and Jerry’s. Do with that valuable nugget of information what you will.

The first meaningful attempt of the second period went in favour of the Panthers and was followed by a bit of shoving. It was end to end but without much end product. Kelsey Wilson kicked off some trouble and sat two minutes for roughing, allowing the Giants to engage in another woeful powerplay attempt, most of which they spent trapped in their own zone by the Panthers who really had their opponents weakness sussed.

When asked about the stuttering Belfast powerplay, Doug Christiansen had yesterday remarked that ‘even a broken clock is right twice a day’. It was an analogy that worked for yesterday’s game as the Giants actually manage to score from a couple of their numerous powerplays; today Doug was left wishing for even one breakthrough as yet again nothing came of the powerplay opportunity.

Shortly afterwards Andrew Fournier had a brilliant chance, receiving a great pass and having not one but two attempts on goal. Davey Phillips then proceeded to clatter a Panther and the Giants were back on the penalty kill. As special teams go, this is where their talents lie and although they repelled a strong start from the Panthers powerplay unit, the home side somehow managed to sneak a goal around Murphy from the stick of Robert Lachowicz. 1-0 Panthers, and the game was finally on.

As the period progressed a familiar problem surfaced for the Giants; it was one we saw during their trip to Germany when they were under the cosh and here again it seemed to be hampering their progress. They were physical, but to the detriment of their play, their physicality stifling their momentum, and they gave up yet another powerplay, Murphy having to be at his best to keep the Panthers from doubling their lead.

At the other end K-Wall must have been getting bored as on one more than one occasion the Giants almost caught him out of his crease, but they were unable to take advantage – they just did not have enough quality attempts on goal. The period ended with the sides trading powerplays, the Giants once again ineffectual, the Panthers on the other hand proving that powerplays are called that for a reason, as they scored a second goal from Jonathan Weaver with just 27.4 seconds remaining. 2-0.

Hope was fast running out for the Giants, who had had just six shots on goal in the entire second period – they would need to reinvent themselves and fast if they were to make any impression on the imperious Panthers in the final period.

But it didn’t look as though the Giants pressure would come as the third period started with early attempts for David Ling, who found himself sandwiched against the boards by Giants in a desperate attempt to thwart him. Bruce Graham had a shot that glanced across the face of Murphy’s goal and nearly caused collective heart failure amongst the Giants faithful.

Five minutes in however, the Giants were finally able to do some pressing of their own, Robby Sandrock first getting a shot on and then scoring! The Giants fans jubilant, the atmosphere in the building lifted and the Giants had a chaotic powerplay, the Panthers defending like their lives depended on it and all of a sudden the momentum had shifted. The Giants were not letting this trophy go without a fight, Sandrock once again called into action defending brilliantly to prevent a one-on-one opportunity. And then came the equaliser from Kevin Saurette, and the place erupted. Just under eight minutes into the period and Belfast had a fire well and truly lit under their behinds as they attacked in waves; the atmosphere within the NIC electric.

The Giants’ momentum was stifled somewhat as Panthers went on the powerplay but they continued to battle with a heroic penalty kill, the defence and Stephen Murphy repelling everything the Panthers threw at them, Darryl Lloyd spectacular in his checking. Spectackle-ular, if you will. But he went a check too far, called 2+2 for high sticks with just 6:40 remaining. The timing couldn’t have been worse and the Giants went into defence mode again, Greg Stewart having the sole attempt short-handed, Murphy making yet another great save at the other end.

The tension was mounting at a rate of knots, as the Giants’ special team of choice acquitted itself with aplomb once again. Greg Stewart was the next to find himself in the penalty box as the Giants’ procession of penalties continued – with just over two minutes of normal time remaining, perhaps Doug Christiansen had decided that the penalty kill was the best state for his side to finish out the game in as they were so efficient at it.

Panthers took a time out prolonging the drama and in the final minutes there were not just nails but knuckles, fists, possibly whole arms being chewed by the Giants fans as the Panthers piled on the pressure. They eventually picked up a penalty of their own but with just 11 seconds remaining there was no chance for the Giants to sneak a goal, and we would go to overtime.

And so to overtime. The final game and the final trophy of the season would be decided by one sudden death goal, or perhaps by penalty shots. Both sides had given it their all and whoever lifted the trophy would be a worthy winner. But which side would fortune favour? With the Panthers still down a man, the Giants began the 20 minute overtime period with a 4-on-3. These were nervous moments, as there were a few good shots from the Giants and one or two from the Panthers too, Murphy continuing in his great vein of form. We all held our breath.

Back to full strength, and Robby Sandrock became a wall, blocking Panthers shots. Disaster struck as the Giants took a penalty for too many men – what a thing to be called for in overtime of the playoff final! – and it was Panthers’ turn for a 4-on-3, just over six minutes in. A shot was blocked, cleared then another saved. Hearts were in mouths, palms were beyond sweaty. With just seconds remaining on the powerplay it looked as though Belfast’s impenetrable penalty kill unit would once again keep them in the game but fate had other ideas, as Jordan Fox finally broke down the defence and the puck seemed to trickle in slow motion past Stephen Murphy. Giants hearts broke. It was all over, and the Panthers triumphed for the third year in a row. The noise was incredible, and the celebrations would continue long into the night.

Conclusions to be drawn from this year’s playoff weekend? There are quite a number:

That’s all from me for this season. Join me over the summer where I will take a look at the comings and goings around the league, and preview the season ahead.

TTFN Sports Fans!