GIANTS MAKE THEIR POINT WITH A BATTLING OT LOSS IN NOTTINGHAM

Having seen their flight from Belfast delayed by seven hours due to Storm Bert and playing just 15 skaters, Adam Keefe’s side fought right to the end. Goals from Scott Conway and Mark Cooper earned them a point, but Matt Alfaro’s overtime finish, which came on the powerplay, saw the extra point stay in Nottingham.

First period

Despite the late arrival, the Giants had the better start. Karl Boudrias had the first look at goal as he got the tip on Pierre-Olivier Morin’s pass to the crease, but it was saved by Ryan Bednard, while Tom McCollum was first called into action as Sam Herr drove in from the right circle but the Giants netminder stood tall to stop him jamming it in from close range.

A hooking call on Gabe Bast put the Giants on an early penalty kill, and McCollum did well to deal with chances for Herr and Mitchell Fossier. The home side finally made the breakthrough at 7:34 as Jaakko Niskala shot from the blue-line and it went all the way in for the opener (1-0).

Grant Mismash, who took a heavy shot block early in the period, nearly tied up when he tipped Bo Hanson’s pass onto the post before Hanson broke up a certain Panthers goal as he intercepted Reid Stefanson’s pass at the last second and then McCollum squeezed the pads to keep Jordan Kelsall out from right in front.

Another massive save from both netminders left it a one-goal game at the intermission, Bednard managing to react quickly to block a Conway tip before McCollum once again was resolute to deny Herr on a one-on-one, with Carpenter and Mismash having efforts saved by Bednard in the final few minutes of the period.

Second period

Having shaken off that block in the first period, Mismash had the first opportunity of the second as he cut in from the right circle and fired straight at Bednard from a promising position, while McCollum was able to get his pad down as Oliver Betteridge stole in on a loose puck and got a quick shot away.

Neither side could convert on two-on-one chances, McCollum hugging his post to keep Davis Bunz off the scoresheet and then Bednard denying Cooper at the other end, but the Panthers netminder saved his best stop for shortly after when Boudrias got a tip on a shot from Jeff Baum and then tried to force in the rebound, but Bednard managed to hold on for the freeze.

Elijiah Barriga had a good chance as he stripped Herr of the puck at the blue-line and skated in on Bednard, but once again, the goaltender was able to make the save. Another Boudrias tip just went wide of the net, but the Giants did end the period on a high as they killed off a Mismash slashing call despite some intense Panthers pressure.

Third period

It looked like it wouldn’t be the Giants’ night when Bast looked to have missed a glorious chance to equalise, firing straight into the body of the helpless Bednard after he made the initial save, but the equaliser did come at 41:46 as Barriga’s initial shot was padded away by Bednard but Conway was on hand to bat the rebound out of the air and in (1-1).

Nottingham nearly retook the lead almost instantly when Matt Spencer hit the post, but they would pull ahead again at 44:49 as Joshua Tetlow’s long pass found Stefanson in the right circle, and he beat McCollum shortside for the go-ahead goal (2-1), but the netminder got the better of Mitchell Fossier on the breakaway, making a huge save down low to keep him out.

And he was rewarded by Cooper, who tied it up at 50:28 shortly after hooking penalties on Hanson and Herr essentially cancelled each other out, the captain picking the top corner from the left face-off dot (2-2) The Giants were hugely unlucky not to take the lead in the dying stages when a scramble at the crease saw the puck flicked onto the post.

Overtime

However, it was always going to be a massive challenge in overtime for the Giants, as they spent all of it on the penalty kill following a checking to the head major penalty to Morin just before overtime began. After soaking up some early pressure, Alfaro settled it with a top corner finish from the left circle 2:23 in to take the two points (3-2).

Next up

Next up, the Stena Line Belfast Giants will spend a weekend on the road in Scotland as they make the trip to the Glasgow Clan on Friday 29 November before heading to the Dundee Stars a day later, with their return to home ice not coming until Wednesday 11 December when they welcome the Dundee Stars to The SSE Arena, Belfast. Tickets available to purchase here.