Elite League: Belfast Giants 4-5 Nottingham Panthers (aot)

Darcy Murphy's goal put Belfast 2-1 but Nottingham fought back to earn an overtime time

Belfast Giants lost their third Elite League game in a row going down after overtime 5-4 to the Nottingham Panthers at the SSE Arena on Wednesday night.

The Giants had come from 4-2 behind to tie the game with their goals coming from Colin Shields, Darcy Murphy, Sebastien Sylvestre and Blair Riley.

But Dan Spang's strike with 2:11 left in sudden death gave the Panthers their third win over the Giants this season.

Nottingham moved to the top of the table as the Giants earned one point.

The visitors grabbed the lead in the first period shorthanded when Alex Mokshantsev capitalised on an offensive zone turnover by the Giants that allowed the one-on-one with netminder Jackson Whistle.

At 16:53 Jeff Mason's wrist shot towards the net was redirected by Shields to tie the game at 1-1 - a goal that ended the Giants' scoreless streak at 136 minutes and 40 seconds.

The home support wouldn't have to wait long another to arrive when Murphy received the puck from Brendan Connolly and planted it past Garnett at 18:04.

Playing at even strength the Giants were in full control of the game but not for the first time this season penalty trouble would haunt them.

They had already killed a long five-on-three advantage for the Panthers at the start of the second period but couldn't repeat the trick with Matthieu Brisebois and Mark Derlago scoring 21 seconds apart on another two-man advantage towards the end of the period to put the visitors ahead.

Yet another powerplay marker from Evan Mosey increased that advantage.

Belfast's final-period fight back began with Sylvestre's goal a minute after the restart.

Riley's tip-in of a Spiro Goulakos blast from the blue line levelled the game at 4-4 with twelve minutes left but neither side could find a winning goal in regulation.

Playing three-on-three in overtime the Giants had chances but after a Riley shot went wide the Panthers broke up ice and Spang notched the winner.

The Giants' next game is against Manchester Storm at home on Sunday (16:00 GMT).