Cats take the 'double' cream

Nothingham Panthers claimed retribution for their own home defeat to the Giants last month with a 4-2 victory at the Odyssey, which also saw Belfast exit out of the Challenge Cup.

Giants needed a draw at worst to advance in the competition at the Panthers' expense, but Marek Ivan wasn't reading the script as he opened a 1-0 lead for the visitors by the end of the first period.

Panthers' NHL penguin Steve McKenna made it 2-0, midway through the second period with a solo effort on the powerplay, but Belfast struck back through Shane Johnson less than two minutes later to reduce the deficit to one goal, going into the final twenty minutes. The period however, finished with controversy as a reckless high stick from Matthew Myers, saw Todd Kelman helped off the ice to receive further medical treatment, while Myers saw an early shower with 5 mins + game for his troubles. With 7 seconds still left on the clock, and tempers rising in both camps, the men in stripes decided to defuse the situation with an early end to the period.

Fredrick Nasvall drew the sides level at 44.53 assisted by Marc Levers, who received no quarter from his former team right throughout the game. Marek Ivan recorded made it a brace, four minutes from time, to make it 3-2. With nothing to lose in the final minute, Klempa came off for the man advantage, but John Craighead slid home an empty netter to make the scoreline a little more flattering.

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