To win league titles sometimes you have to win games that maybe you don’t deserve to.

This was a fun game to watch on and the Giants played well but netminder Jackson Whistle stole that game from the Panthers with a string of great saves including two in the third period on the breakaway from Sam Herr and the close in chance from Otto Niemenen.

Great goaltending usually wins games and Jason Grande also played so well for the Panthers, only failing to stop Jeff Baum’s opening goal.

Should be a cracking second half of the doubleheader tomorrow night.

JJ Piccinich seals the top points for the Giants with the empty netter but Jackson Whistle’s point blank save from Otto Nieminen with three minutes left saved the game for the home side.

Exciting last five minutes coming up.

Both sides going for it. End-to-end, terrific atmosphere….

Scrambling Giants defence stops Panthers tying the game then Sam Herr is gifted a breakaway by Bo Hanson’s errant pass and Jackson Whistle denies him.

End-to-end they go….

Mark Cooper drives to the net but hits the post as he tries to tuck the puck home.

Panthers still carrying a big threat at the other end.

The visitors won’t have wanted the intermission as they were well on top as the second period ended.

These feel like such big games despite the fact it’s only the halfway mark of the season.

Last twenty minutes underway

Image source, Press Eye

The Giants still lead but they were hanging on at the end of a dominant second half of the period from the Panthers.

Jackson Whistle keeping his side ahead but the Giants need to pick up the tempo in the final twenty minutes.

A little purple patch for the Panthers with a few good opportunities to score including Didrik Henbrant who hit the outside of the post.

Image source, Press Eye

Panthers record only one shot on their third man advantage of the game.

First visit of the season for the Panthers to Belfast and their supporters are bringing the noise and it’s also clear as to why they are serious contenders for silverware this season.

However, they haven’t created much on the powerplay which will be disappointing.

Will they be better in the second period - we are back underway

Image source, Press Eye

Jeff Baum’s goal is the difference after twenty minutes of a tight contest.

The home side getting some momentum off a couple of penalty kills.

Last minute of play in the first period and the Giants take the lead as they dig the puck out of the corner and Ben Lake finds Jeff Baum who goes glove side on Jason Grande from the left circle,

He doesn’t score many but that’s Baum’s second goal in six days.

Image source, Press Eye

The sides trade powerplay chances, Giants Mark Cooper goes closest to scoring shorthanded twice.

Panthers back with the man advantage

Halfway point of the first period

Tim Doherty, all alone, dangles the puck around Jackson Whistle and with a seemingly open net can’t pull the trigger.

Huge let-off for the Giants.

The Giants missed an opportunity to take top spot away from Cardiff last weekend and after taking only a point from their two games they will want to get back on track.

Jackson Whistle gets the start between the pipes for the Giants while Jason Grande is the starting netminder for the Panthers. Their recent run of good form that catapulted them up the standings has been slowed by defeats to Sheffield and Cardiff but points this weekend would keep up that momentum.

There were fireworks in tonight’s pre-Game ceremonies as the Giants continue their 25th anniversary celebrations.

Will there fireworks on the ice?

The puck is dropped and we are underway….

Hello from the SSE Arena in Belfast where the hometown Giants face-off with the Nottingham Panthers in the first of two games in two nights between the sides.

The second-placed Giants are two places and four points above the Panthers in the standings, with both teams playing their 27th game of the season - the halfway point of league fixtures.

Both are very much still in the title race, and this weekend's meetings could go a long way to deciding who stays in it.

The Panthers are in Belfast for a double-header, in what is also a 3-in-3 on the road for the Panthers.

They'll face the Giants again on Saturday night before heading to Dundee on Sunday.

Image source, BBC Sport