Elite League.
Saturday 10th November.
Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham.
Report by Mark Brooks.
Nottingham Panthersxa0 xa00xa0 xa0 xa04xa0 xa0Stena Line Belfast Giants.
Giants Claw Panthers To Stay Top Of Elite Leaguexa0
The Stena Line Belfast Giants defeated the Nottingham Panthers away on Saturday, beginning a weekend on the road with a 4-0 win. Saturday’s victory in Nottingham comes ahead of Sunday’s clash with the reigning Elite League champions, Cardiff Devils.
Three middle period goals in the space of 7 minutes did the majority of the damage as the Giants won a second straight game in Nottingham this season to remain in first place in the Elite League standings. The Giants started with Tyler Beskorowany in goal and were missing Jonathan Ferland, Colin Shields, Matt Towe and Andrew Dickson.
The Belfast defence really impressed.xa0 The Giants defence was on show throughout the opening 20 minutes in Nottingham. Tyler Beskorowany turned away seven shots and two Panthers’ powerplays as the visitors took a 0-0 scoreline into the second period
The game finally came to life at just over the halfway mark in Nottingham. First – the Giants opened the scoring at 31:04 as Darcy Murphy gave the visitors the lead, assisted by David Rutherford.
Then, at 35:07, Kevin Raine netted his first goal of the season as his shot from the blueline squeezed home, assisted by Kyle Baun and Pat Dwyer.
Soon after and it was another for the Giants when Hunter Bishop’s clever play resulted in a third goal of the period, unassisted at 37:41.
The visitors kept up their momentum when the final period started as the Giants extended their advantage to four. David Rutherford grabbed his team’s fourth of the night 98 seconds into the third period with a powerplay strike, assisted by Darcy Murphy and Blair Riley.
Tyler Beskorowany, who turned away every Panthers shot, stood firm in the Giants net to backstop the visitors to the win and claim a well deserved shutout.
Giants Man of the Match.
#34 Tyler Beskorowany (19 save shutout)
Next Up?
The Giants stay on the road for Sunday’s first clash of the season against the Cardiff Devils, face-off 6pm.
The Giants then return to Belfast for the International Ice-Hockey Federation’s Continental Cup. The tournament is hosted at The SSE Arena Thursday 15th, Friday 16th and Saturday 17th November. Tickets are now on sale fromxa0ticketmaster.iexa0as well as from the Arena Box Office in person or by calling 028 9073 9074.
