Belfast Giants beat Nottingham Panthers 4-2 at the SSE Arena on Friday evening in a match that will shape the EIHL title race significantly, David Goodwin scoring twice as Belfast moved to four wins from five and ended Nottingham's two-game winning streak. The crowd of 7,314 — the same as last week — witnessed a match that swung dramatically in the second period before Belfast reasserted control in the third.
Nottingham came into this match on the back of Saturday's 4-2 win at Sheffield — itself a pivotal result — but Belfast met them on their best form and didn't flinch when the Panthers levelled at 2-2 in the second period. Lee's goal at 32:54 immediately after the leveller and Twarynski's power play strike at 43:54 gave Belfast the cushion they needed, and Nottingham's late push — goalkeeper pulled at 56:10, timeout called at 56:59, Carr coming back on at 59:41 — couldn't find the equaliser.
Belfast lead at the break — Goodwin starts the scoring
Hilderman was penalised for hooking at 9:04 but Belfast couldn't convert. Goodwin then scored at 18:31 — Piccinich and Conway assisting — to give Belfast a 1-0 lead with 29 seconds of the first period remaining. The period ended 1-0 to the home side, Kupsky barely tested.
The pivotal second period — level at 2-2, then Belfast respond
The second period was the match's fulcrum. Goodwin scored his second at 26:49 from Conway's assist to make it 2-0 — then Hanson was penalised for slashing at 27:17. Armour converted the resulting power play at 27:28 from Doherty and Noel to make it 2-1, and Zech levelled at 29:13 from Armour and Doherty to make it 2-2. Two Nottingham goals in 105 seconds, converting the Belfast penalty into a full equaliser.
The momentum had shifted. Then Belfast scored at 32:54. Lee put them back ahead from Gaudet and Kawaguchi — a goal that arrived just under four minutes after Nottingham had levelled and demonstrated exactly the kind of mental resilience a title-challenging side needs. The second period ended 3-2 to Belfast, the third goal proving decisive in the context of the match.
Twarynski seals it — Nottingham's late push repelled
Fossier was penalised for slashing at 41:59, and Twarynski converted the power play at 43:54 from Bast to make it 4-2. Nottingham pulled Carr at 56:10, called a timeout at 56:59, and tried everything in the final four minutes. It wasn't enough. Carr came back on at 59:41 with 19 seconds left and Belfast held on.
Kupsky had another excellent evening in the Belfast goal, facing Nottingham's best efforts in the third period without conceding. Carr, coming in to replace Grande in goal from the start, had little chance on Belfast's four goals — all of which were well worked — but Nottingham's inability to find a fifth goal late on despite sustained pressure reflects a Belfast defensive unit at the top of their game.
What this means for the title race
Belfast on four wins from five. Nottingham's winning run ended. The gap between these two sides — which had looked like it might close last week after Nottingham's win at Sheffield — remains intact and possibly widened. With the regular season nearing its end, this is the kind of result that title races are decided by. Both sides meet again in the coming weeks, and tonight's result will inform how both approach it.
Result: Belfast Giants 4 – 2 Nottingham Panthers
Belfast Giants scorers: Goodwin 18:31 (A: Piccinich, Conway) — Goodwin 26:49 (A: Conway) — Lee 32:54 (A: Gaudet, Kawaguchi) — Twarynski 43:54 PP (A: Bast)
Nottingham Panthers scorers: Armour 27:28 PP (A: Doherty, Noel) — Zech 29:13 (A: Armour, Doherty)
Goaltenders: Jake Kupsky (BEL) | Kevin Carr (NOT)