Giants Secure Spot in 2024/25 Challenge Cup Final

FIRST PERIOD

The game began with the hosts knowing they had to come out and battle for early goals, and the Giants were happy to control the puck when they had it. Bo Hanson was the first to get a shot on net before Jackson Whistle produced an excellent save to deny Tim Doherty. Doherty then got a skate on a puck across net from Mitchell Fossier but could not sweep home into the unguarded net.

Ben Lake and Ciaran Long were next to get pucks on net with the former being stopped from close range and the latter pouncing on a rebound off the boards. Reid Stefanson and JJ Piccinich traded shots that were well saved by Whistle and Jason Grande respectively. The final chance of the first fell the way of Bobo Carpenter on the breakaway but he was thwarted by Grande and the first period ended goalless on the night.

SECOND PERIOD

The Panthers came out after the first intermission with renewed energy and Matt Spencer tried to catch out Whistle with a wrist shot but it was well stopped. The Giants responded, and both Jordan Kawaguchi and Bobo Carpenter came close to opening the scoring on the night before their goalie produced a stunning save from Otto Nieminen while Hanson stopped the puck from crossing the line in the ensuing scramble. After Didrik Henbrandt had a shot repelled, Gabe Bast was sent to the penalty box for interference just after the midway point of the period. Just when it looked like the visitors would kill the penalty, a rocket off the stick of Zsombor Garat caught Whistle unsighted and opened the scoring on the night, cutting the aggregate lead to two. (1-0)

As it turned out, the Giants would spend six of the 20 second period minutes with a man disadvantage as David Goodwin and Ben Lake served two minutes each almost immediately after each other for hooking and slashing respectively but both of the penalties were killed and captain Mark Cooper even came close to a short-handed goal. The final big chance of the second went the way of Belfast also, as Piccinich struck the base of the post and Jordan Kawaguchi couldn’t force the rebound home.

THIRD PERIOD

The final period got off to a turbulent start for Adam Keefe’s men as, just 37 seconds in, Cooper Zech forced a puck in that Whistle got a glove to and the Panthers were back to within one goal on aggregate (2-0). With the home crowd behind their team, the Giants knew that they would have to dig in if they were to make the final and, to their credit, they steadied the ship when it would have been so easy to crumble under pressure. Goodwin had a good chance on the breakaway just before the midway point of the period while the hosts rode out a penalty call against Doherty. Then came the onslaught.

First, Fossier got into a great position but, arguably got too much on his tip in front of the net and sent it over the bar before the shots rained down on the Belfast goal. Nieminen and Matt Alfaro were denied before Fossier’s effort across the crease was somehow smothered before an almighty scramble ensued with bodies and sticks all over the paint in front of the Giants’ net. The puck stayed out and the men in white and teal rode out the remaining minutes even when the home side sacrificed their netminder, Grande, for the final two minutes of play.

UP NEXT

The Stena Line Belfast Giants will take on Cardiff Devils at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Wednesday 12^th March to battle for the Challenge Cup title, with ticketing information being announced on Thursday 27 February. Meanwhile, the Giants head to Altrincham to face Manchester Storm in Elite Ice Hockey League action on Saturday evening, before returning to home ice against Glasgow Clan on Sunday 2 March at 4PM. Limited tickets remain and are available to purchase here.

Images by Nottingham Panthers.