Sat 21 Jan 2023 - 9:32PM

MATCH REPORT: PANTHERS 3-5 GIANTS

The Nottingham Panthers were beaten 5-3 by Belfast Giants at the Motorpoint Arena in the Viaplay Elite League on Saturday night.

The Panthers roared into a 3-0 lead but the Giants hit back and Great Britain international Scott Conway scored the game-winner in the third period, with Ben Lake adding the insurance goal into the empty net.

Duggie Lagrone and Craig Moore missed out because of injury while Tanner Sorenson and netminder Peyton Jones were the healthy scratches, with Alex Dubeau starting between the pipes.

Anderson and Welychka give Panthers first-period lead
Panthers took the lead when Adam Brady's shot was saved and Stephen Anderson buried the loose puck past Tyler Beskorowany (4:30).

Nottingham scored their second on a three-on-one break as a superb feed from David Levin found Brett Welychka who went top-shelf at the backdoor (13:14).

At the other end, Dubeau made a good stop from Mark Garside on a Giants two-on-one break and also made a great save to deny Ben Lake.

Ferrara on target but Giants hit back to equalise
Panthers scored on an early second-period powerplay as a shot from Kelly Summers was saved and Luke Ferrara did well to control the bobbling rebound and slot the puck past Beskorowany (23:20).

Mark Cooper reduced the deficit when he tipped-in a shot from Matt Foley (26:51).

Beskorowany make a huge save to stop Levin and Belfast broke down the ice with Mark Cooper cutting inside from the left to fire in his second (30:18), before the Giants netminder made great stops on Brady and Jordan Kelsall.

Brady then hit the base of the left-hand post and late in the period, new Giants signing Grant Cooper slid the puck low under Dubeau for Belfast's equaliser (39:49).

Conway scores game-winner for Giants
Belfast went ahead when Mark Cooper drove the net and Conway popped the loose puck past Dubeau (45:13).

Dubeau made a huge save to deny Conway at the backdoor and in the closing stages, Beskorowany stone-walled Ferrara from close range.

Panthers lifted Dubeau for the extra skater on a late powerplay and Lake wrapped the game up for the Giants with a short-handed empty-net goal (58:45).

Storm on-the-road next weekend and Clan at home
The Panthers return to action next Saturday with a roadtrip to Altrincham to face Manchester Storm in the Viaplay Elite League (7pm face-off).

And then on Sunday, Glasgow Clan visit the Motorpoint Arena (4pm face-off). It's a special themed night in Nottingham - it's 80s Night!

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