It was.a game that could have gone either way.

Nottingham, after such a tragic month, obviously looked short of competitive action but they could easily have taken the points and on the powerplay they had some top quality chances.

After their recent run of poor form a 4-point weekend was just what the Giants required. This wasn't a pretty win but it was much needed. Tyler Beskorowany with a man of the match performance between the pipes.

No need for Petr Cech tonight....

The Panthers travel to Cardiff next Saturday and will be at home on Sunday against Dundee.

The Giants make the trip to Glasgow on Friday before a massive home date on Sunday with the Sheffield Steelers.

We'll be back for that game from 15:45 on 3 December.

Image source, Panthers Images

Brave comeback from the Panthers is finally ended by another empty net goal from Ara Nazarian

Still over a minute to go and the Panthers are back in the game with a goal from Didrik Henbrant

Can the Giants hold on?

34 seconds to go...

Kohei Sato wins the face-off, recovers the puck and fires it the length of the ice into the empty net.

But wait....

Ollie Betteridge had another chance on the powerplay but fired wide for the home side.

1:40 to go - Stojanovic pulled for the extra forward

Charlie Curti gets called for a penalty moments after the Giants probably should have been called for an infringement anyway.

Big kill for the Giants, big powerplay for the Panthers...

The crowd rise to remember Adam Johnson in the 47th minute....applause and chanting the forward's name. A lovely tribute....

Hugo Roy hits the post for the Panthers and it sets up another powerplay but the Giants make a good kill to maintain the lead

Straight out of the penalty box and onto the puck and Matty McLeod put on the afterburners around the back of the net and wrapped the puck in off the skate of Rok Stojanovic.

It was Tyler Beskorowany who helped kill the Panthers powerplay with a big save from Ollie Betteridge.

Image source, Panthers Images

It's all to play for with 20 minutes remaining.

The Panthers begin the final period on the powerplay with 1:10 left on the penalty to the Giants Matty McLeod.

I'll make a bold prediction - the next goal in this game will be crucial!

Image source, Panthers Images

Giants coach Adam Keefe not happy with his players.

I wonder if he'd consider passing on the powerplay if he could because having the man advantage hasn't done his side any good - 0-for-4 and lucky not to concede short-handed.

The Panthers have outworked the Giants and have done more with less possession of the puck.

After their penalty killers have done the job can the Panthers powerplay give them the lead late in the period?

Image source, Panthers Images

Giants powerplay was woeful, best chance fell to Panthers as Otto Nieminen was denied by Tyler Beskorowany shorthanded,

Once the powerplay finished the Giants had the best few minutes of the game as they hemmed the Panthers in their own zone and Quinn Preston and Matty McLeod went close to scoring.

Preston gets cross-checked and the Giants are right back on the powerplay again

Here we go again - another powerplay for the Giants after Daniel Tedesco was slashed...

Quinn Preston's effort may have clipped the crossbar but other than that it was another powerplay without any zip to it and with little player movement.

Poor from the Giants and the Panthers with momentum

9:36 to go in the second period....

Image source, Panthers Images

It's not a very physical game and both sides have had chances off the rush that the two netminders have coped with well.

Giants heading to the powerplay for the second time hoping it's better than the first...

Back underway at the Motorpoint Arena.

The last time the Giants were in Nottingham was back in April when they won the Play-Offs final to complete the Grand Slam.

That seems a long time ago, especially with their recent poor run of form.

Image source, Panthers Images

Former Arsenal and Chelsea goalkeeper - Premier League and Champions League winner - Petr Cech made his professional debut for the Giants in the closing minutes of the game against Glasgow in Belfast.

Here is what he had to say afterwards....

I think both teams will be pretty happy with a very even first period.

The Panthers obviously haven't played a competitive game in a month while the Giants, short on bodies, have created chances and are trying to play a solid, simple road game.

It's been a bit scrappy...better to come hopefully

The Panthers are about to head to the powerplay once a problem with the glass in the arena is sorted out.

The Giants squandered their first man advantage as once again their powerplay laboured to create any clear cut chances.

5 minutes remain in the first period.