Thu 26 Mar 2026 - 1:30PM
WEEKEND LOWDOWN: TWO GAMES IN BELFAST
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Nottingham Panthers travel to Belfast this weekend to take on the Giants in a double-header with matches on both Friday and Saturday night.
The Giants need one one win from their remaining six league games to secure the Elite League title for the 2025/2026 season.
With only Panthers and Cardiff Devils left who can mathematically catch the Giants, Danny Stewart's side will need to win both games in regulation-time to have any hope of winning the league title should the Giants slip-up in their remaining games.
A large travelling contingent of Panthers fans will be making the trip over the Irish Sea for the weekend, so the visitors won’t be short of vociferous support in two likely sold-out SSE Arena games.
Since splitting the double-header in Nottingham in February, Giants have gone on to win eight out of their 10 league games since then. In the same time period, Panthers have won seven of 11 games since beating the Giants in their last encounter on 15th February.
Panthers won that last meeting 5-3 as Mitch Fossier had two goals and an assist, while forward JJ Piccinich scored two goals for Belfast.
In overall league play, Tim Doherty leads scoring for Panthers with 51 points in 48 games (15+36) and leads the EIHL overall in assists, one ahead of Giants defenceman Mike Lee who has 35 assists.
Lee is also the leading points-scoring defenceman in the league with 46 points in 48 games.
For Belfast, JJ Piccinich equals Lee in scoring. He also has 46 points in 48 games (15+31). Jordan Kawaguchi is third in Giants scoring with 42 points in 48 games (22+20).
There is a very large possibility that we could see the Elite League Championship wrapped-up this weekend, but Panthers will be doing everything in their power to ensure the title race stays alive for a little while longer.
Next up at the Motorpoint Arena
The next home action is on Wednesday 1st April (19:00 face-off) when Panthers face Manchester Storm at the Motorpoint Arena - a game sponsored by WAGO.
Tickets are selling fast for this one too so make sure you secure your seats now and be part of the passionate #PanthersNation.