Nervy finish but Giants secure win

TWO goals each from Darcy Murphy and Brendan Connolly helped the Belfast Giants to victory in a 10-goal thriller against the Nottingham Panthers.

The victory was, however, only secured in the last minute after the Panthers — trailing 5-1 — staged a fightback with three goals in just 11 minutes.

After Saturday night’s 5-3 defeat at home to Braehead Clan the Giants got off to a flying start when they took the lead just short of the two-minute mark when the puck dropped to Murphy beside the goal and he pounced to score.

It wasn’t until almost six minutes into the second period that the Giants doubled their lead when Steve Saviano set up Sebastien Sylvestre to score.

The Panthers cut the deficit when Mark Derlago skated out from the boards and fired high into the net at 27:53.

The Giants were two up again less than a minute later when Murphy knocked home Brendan Connolly’s pass on a powerplay and 20 seconds before the end of the second period it was 4-1 when Connolly himself finished off great work from Murphy.

A minute into the third period Colin Shields hit the Giants fifth.

Nottingham did rally though. Brett Perlini netted on a powerplay at 47:55 and Luke Pither stole the puck and finished 39 seconds later to make it 5-3.

The deficit was down to one goal with 86 seconds to go when Tim Billingsley finished.

The Panthers had already pulled goaltender Patrick Galbraith in an attempt to get back into the game and he was still off when Connolly made sure of the win for the Giants with a longrange finish into the empty net.