Keefe Lives Up To Billing.

• Belfast Giants vs Nottingham Panthers, W 2-1
• Giants Goals: Keefe (2)
• Panthers Goals: Clarke

General Manager Todd Kelman listed forward Adam Keefe as one of his "one's to watch". He wasn't wrong. As the Belfast Giants took on the Nottingham Panthers in the first preseason game for both teams, "AK47" was at the centre of most of the games highlights putting away 2 goals in the 2-1 victory for the home team.

Kelman also promised a useful powerplay, strong transition game and stressed that the game was not just for training. Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad. The game started at a relatively pedestrian pace with both teams finding their feet. However it was the Belfast team that always looked as if they could find another gear when required, with all lines stringing together multiple passes and gelling very well. Keefe was the first to make an impact, laying a big hit around 9 minutes in, while forechecking hard in the offensive zone. It was Keefe again 2 minutes later getting a tip off a Brock McBride shot to score the Giants first Powerplay goal of the season while Beauregard sat for hooking. The period ended with the Giants defending an extended 5-3 opportunity. The pressure was very well dealt with, the Giants successfully keeping opportunities to a minimum.

The start of the second period was largely uneventful until Adam Keefe struck once again, slotting his second of the night while the Panthers had a Fox in the Box for hooking. The first goal mouth scuffle occurred around 15 minutes through the period but was largely handbags and didnít result in any penalties.

The third period started at a slightly quicker pace, players having found their skates, and an increase in physicality was noticeable. Indeed, it was this physicality that eventually lead to Panthersí David Clarke scoring for the visitors at 10.05 of the period. With Murphy pinned on his stomach under a fallen defender it was a simple enough task to bring the visitors within one.

It was then the turn of Derek LeBlanc to make his presence felt. Coming out of the box after a tripping call LeBlanc landed a huge mid-ice hit on Panthers Captain Matthew Myers. New defenseman Brock Wilson was then on the receiving end of LeBlancís slapshot, leaving for treatment after taking a puck to the hand.

The remainder of the period was fairly end to end but neither club were able to add to their totals.

Giants MOM : Adam Keefe

Panthers MOM : David Clarke

Chris Williams

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