The Giants' head coach can be heard on the bench mic on Viaplay Sports telling his side:

"One goal gives us life."

The visitors are still not out of this.

Image source, CHL

Puhakka is through again but the Giants' net-minder pulls off a wonderful save. The Giants are unable to capitalise on the Tappara ill-discipline as the PP expires without so much as a chance.

Rikard Gronborg looks understandably frustrated as his side are penalised for too many men on the ice.

The Giants fail to kill the Power Play as Nick Halloran squeezes the puck into the net after a Beskorowany save.

A second minor for the Giants' number 3 as he is sat down for tripping. A crucial couple of minute coming up for the visitors.

The puck is dropped here as we get underway for the second period in Tampere.

I wasn't in the Giants' dressing room pre-match but I would imagine Adam Keefe's message would have been to keep it tight through the first and that is exactly what they have done.

They have had some half-chances without overly worrying Christian Heljanko in the home net while there was next to nothing they could do about Petteri Puhakka's fine finish that ended up dislodging the net from the ice.

It's an old cliche but, truly, the next goal is crucial here at the Nokia Arena. The hosts get it? It is a long way back for Belfast. The Giants get it? We have ourselves a game.

Image source, BBC Sport

The Giants are still very much in this game and Adam Keefe will be mostly happy with what he has seen so far. An intriguing second period awaits here at the Nokia Arena.

A couple of scrambles in front of Heljanko with Ciaran Long coming close to forcing it over the line but the hosts' net remains unscathed. Beskorowany makes a good save at the other end shortly after.

2 to go in the first period.

The hosts break away at pace and Petteri Puhakka sweeps home a short-handed goal after a pass from Otto Somppi. The goal is awarded following a video review for a potential offside

Nicholas Baptiste is now in the box for holding bringing about the Giants' first Power Play.

Charlie Curti will sit for two for tripping while Savinaianen enters the box for slashing

The officials have to step in as Vittasmaki and Cooper clash for reasons unbeknown to me. A fairly even game in the opening exchanges.

Beskorowany makes a fine stop in front of the Tappara ultras behind the goal while the sizeable travelling support are housed at the other end.

The Giants have started brightly with captain Mark Cooper forcing a save from Heljanko. Tappara settling into the game now.

We are underway at the Nokia Arena and the Giants will be looking to keep it tight early against their illustrious hosts.

The teams have just entered the ice here in the impressive surroundings of the Nokia Arena and the home crowd are delighted to welcome their double-winners back to home ice for the first time this year.

Puck drop coming up shortly.

Only Tyler Beskorowany and Jacob Friend remain from Adam Keefe's starting six yesterday. Goalscorer Greg Printz starts.

Meanwhile, Tappra head coach Rikard Gronborg makes two changes from his side's win in Denmark yesterday. This means double-scorer Nicholas Baptiste will have to wait to enter the ice today.

Tappara Tampere

G Christian Heljanko

D Veli-Matti Vittasmaki

D Kasper Kulonummi

F Veli-Matti Savinainen

F Carter Camper

F Otto Somppi

Belfast Giants

G Tyler Beskorowany

D Jacob Friend

D Charles Curti

F Ara Nazarian

F Greg Printz

F Quinn Preston

Image source, BBC Sport

The Giants went down 3-1 after a battling performance in Rauma yesterday but have a monumental task ahead against Finnish and European champions Tappara Tempere.

The holders didn't have it all their own way yesterday as they squeezed past Aalborg 2-1 in overtime but will be formidable opposition for Adam Keefe's men this afternoon.

Image source, BBC Sport