No I more scoring although the Giants finished the game on the defensive.

Timely scoring and really good goaltending from Jackson Whistle the difference in this game.

Will a three-goal lead be enough? That sort of deficit has been overturned before but the Giants have only lost two games all season by four goals, but one of those was in Nottingham.

Who will make the Challenge Cup Final will be decided in Nottingham in two weeks time.

Before then the Giants will return to Elite League business on Friday night against Fife at 7pm. Join me then….

Image source, Press Eye

Giants with a late chance to grab a fourth goal as they go on the powerplay with 3.40 left in the game

Giants kill the penalty quite comfortably in the end

6.25 to go…

Big two minutes for Nottingham.

They’re pushing the pace to try and get at least a goal back and now have the man advantage.

8.42 to go

Giants finally get a third goal.

Cooper once again drives the net. A Panthers stick blocks his shot, except it isn’t in the hands of a player.

It would be a penalty shot but Jordan Kawaguchi follows up and scores

Image source, Press Eye

Could be a pivotal 20 minutes in this semi-final coming up.

Will either side gamble?

We’re underway….

The goalies were the stars of the second period which is some ways was played by two sides who seem happy with the scoreline.

The Giants playing like they think a two-goal is enough while the Panthers believe a two-goal deficit can be turned around in the second leg

That, I’m sure isn’t the case, but it’s quite a cagey game.

Cardiff and Sheffield tied on aggregate at 5-5 in the other semi-final after the first period.

Image source, Press Eye

Four minutes remaining in the period and the Giants now with their first powerplay

First man advantage of the game goes to the Panthers but Jackson Whistle is there to shut the door on them.

Image source, Press Eye

Second period is fairly wizzing by, Few whistles and no penalties.

Both netminders have made some key saves

Halfway through….

Two goal leads in hockey mean nothing.

The Panthers wouldn’t like to be chasing a bigger deficit in the second leg so they have to balance attacking to cut into the two-goal Giants lead and making sure they don’t leave themselves exposed.

The Giants want goals…

Second period underway…

Some good pressure from the Panthers after they went 0-2 down and Jackson Whistle has made a couple of top drawer saves.

Giants will be happy with the early lead, but it’s early in this two-legged semi-final.

Image source, Press Eye

Bad change by the Panthers allows Elijah Barriga all the ice time he needs to pick out Ciaran Long who goes top shelf with the backhand.

Image source, Press Eye

Turnover by the Giants allows Reid Stefanson and clear skate in on Jackson Whistle but the Giants netminder makes a big early save.

6 mins remaining in the first period

Been an opening to the game with little flurries of pressure for both sides but just after the Panthers had some good offensive zone time, Giants captain Mark Cooper drives to the net and sneaks the puck between the pads of Jason Grande.

Image source, Press Eye

The Giants chose to play Nottingham over Cardiff in the last four.

That alone should motivate the Panthers…

Jason Grande is the starting netminder for the visitors with Jackson Whistle getting the call for the Giants.

The puck is dropped and we are underway

Hostilities in the Elite League are suspended this evening as attention turns to the Challenge Cup and the first leg of the semi-final between the Belfast Giants and Nottingham Panthers.

The four games between the teams this season have all gone the way of the home side, and over the last 20 games these are the two form sides in the Elite League, with a combined 64 points 20 played each.

The Giants would host the final if they get there, as they did in both 2022 and 2023, when they also lifted the trophy.

Nottingham haven't been in the Cup Final since winning it in 2016.

Meanwhile in Cardiff, the Devils have a two-goal aggregate deficit to make up in their home leg against Sheffield Steelers.

The Yorkshire side's 5-3 home win a week ago puts them two ahead when the puck drops at the Vindico Arena as they aim to go a step further in trying to defend their 2024 title.

Image source, BBC Sport