Nottingham Panthers 4 Belfast Giants 3 (After Shootout)
September 4, 2010
A great game to start the 2010/11 Elite League season in front of the Sky TV cameras with Panthers coming from an early deficit to grab the extra point in a controversial penalty shootout.
The game winning shot came from Jade Galbraith with Panthers' 7th shot of the shootout but it looked very much like the same player had ended the contest in the 4th round, only for referee Moray Hanson to rule out the play, deeming the puck had not crossed the line.
Earlier it had been the visitors who had quickly jumped to a two-goal lead with a powerplay counter by Tim Cook at 2.26 and a strike by Michael Bayrack at 4.18. The home side came back before the period break however and on a 5 on 3 powerplay it was David Clarke who fired home at 11.03.
The home side continued their comeback by scoring the only goal of the second period as a shorthanded effort by David-Alexandre Beauregard at 28.29 saw the teams tied at two.
When Matthew Myers edged Corey Neilson's men ahead for the first time at 41.05 it seemed the game had turned in Panthers favour but late on Giants ensured overtime when at 57.13 Brett Hemingway netted.
The extra five minutes of skating so no addition to the scoring, preceding the drama of the shootout where Panthers prevailed thanks to the skills of Galbraith as he lifted a cool backhand shot over Stephen Murphy.
Period Scores: 1-2, 1-0, 1-1, 0-0, 1-0 (3-2)
Penalty Mins: Not 21 - Bel 17
Powerplay: Not 1/4 - Bel 1/6
Shots On: Craig Kowalski 38 - Stephen Murphy 34
Referee: Moray Hanson
