26 Feb 2025, 19:30 | Regular season | SF | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham |
Nottingham Panthers | 2-0 | Belfast Giants |
Periods: Shots: | 0-0 ( - ) | 1-0 ( - ) |
|
Referees: #25 Andy Dalton, #14 Chris Wells  |  Spectators: 5263 |
  |
Goals and assists
Nottingham Panthers were a goal away from making up a 0-3 aggregate
deficit against Belfast Giants, but the visitors held on in the closing
stages to advance to the Challenge Cup Final 3-2 on aggregate.
5,263 fans saw the Panthers win 2-0 on the night at the Motorpoint Arena, but fall just short.
Period
one was a very cagey affair. The Giants out-shot that hosts 15-5 but
neither side forced any clear-cut chances. Elijiah Barriga took a skate
to the chin and left the ice but was thankfully back playing by the
final period.
Jason Grande stopped an early breakaway as the
Giants had an early chance to open the scoring at the start of period
two. The Giants then ran into penalty trouble and fell behind when
Zsombor Garát shot from the point off a faceoff win went all the way
though and past Whistle at 32:17. The Panthers then enjoyed two further
powerplays and hit a post, as well as having a bouncing puck kicked off
the line by Josh Roach to stay two ahead on aggregate.
The Giants had a decent spell of pressure themselves towards the
end of the period, their first sustained offensive zone time in the
game. JJ Piccinich’s shot in the slot came back off the post although
Grande may have got a toe to it as well.
The Panthers got a dream start to period three by scoring after
just 37 seconds - a Cooper Zech shot from a tight angle snuck its way
past Whistle to make it 2-0 on the night, and bring the hosts back to
within one on aggregate. The Giants saw a Tim Doherty minor pass without
being able to increase their lead, and became more and more on the back
foot as the game entered the final stages. Whistle made two excellent
saves, while a number of scrambles around the crease saw the Panthers
one stick away from tying things. Mitch Fossier didn't make full contact
with a one-timer in one of the Panthers' best chances with six skaters
after pulling Grande with 1:49 to go, but in the end the visitors held
on and narrowly advanced to the Challenge Cup Final.