Big Cats Get The Cream

The Coors Belfast Giants had their lead at the top of the table nibbled at tonight by a hungry and resurgent Nottingham Panthers side. The Panthers arrived along with almost 200 fans who were definitely in the mood for a party, and when the Panthers took the lead midway through the game, they almost lifted the roof off the Odyssey so loud were their cheers.

It was the Giants that took the lead though, after a fumble by the usually unflappable Curtis Cruikshank, when he accidentally nudged the puck into his own net.The goal was credited to Curtis Huppe. It was a lead that the Giants deserved as they came out flying and putting in hits and checks everywhere. The Giants had also managed to kill off two consecutive penalties early in the game. Unfortunately though, they could not sustain the pressure and the Panthers began to get their game together.

The second period was much more even with both teams testing the netminders constantly. It was starting to become evident that this would not be the Giants night as chance after chance went wide. The Panthers seemed to sense this and upped their game, scoring a deserved equaliser with just over a minute left, the goal scored by Brandin Cote.

Into the final period and the Giants began well enough, forcing the Panthers back into their own zone, but it was to no avail as James Cooke scored for the visitors at 44.29. After this the Panthers were content to soak up anything the Giants threw at them, and make their breaks on a counter attack. With just over one minute left in the game, netminder Mike Minard skated to the bench to give the Giants the extra outskater. But merely seconds later, Dan Ceman lobbed the puck from his own zone and it landed kindly for him, rolling agonising slowly into the Giants empty net, sealing the Panthers win.

The Giants now travel to face the Basingstoke Bison hoping to end what is becoming something of a minor crisis in the bid to win the championship. Usually if the Giants win at home, and play on the road the next night, they lose that game. Hopefully tonight will provide a reversal of those fortunes. Game starts at 18.30.

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