Tue 11 Apr 2023 - 07:00AM

PREPARATION UNDER WAY FOR FINALS WEEKEND

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The Nottingham Panthers are busy preparing for this weekend's playoff semi-final with Belfast Giants at the Motorpoint Arena (3pm face-off).

It's the first of the two semi-finals with Sheffield Steelers and Cardiff Devils meeting in the evening (7pm).

Panthers, who have won the playoffs five times in the Elite League era, are making their first visit to finals weekend since 2019.

Corey Neilson's side booked their place in the Final Four with a two-legged thrilling 7-6 aggregate victory over Guildford Flames.

Saturday's 4-1 superb victory in the first leg was followed by a nervy 5-3 defeat in Guildford in the second leg, but Panthers threw everything on the line to secure the win.

Neilson said: "We played with a lot of desperation and that's what we needed to do.

"We're a happy team and so many of this roster don't know what awaits them this weekend.

"It's an amazing experience and I'm glad after the year we've had they get to look forward to that."