The game ends with two Nottingham Panthers players in the penalty box as their frustrations boil over.

Will Cullen turns out to be the game winner on his return to Belfast as his second period goal gave the Giants a lead that they never surrendered.

This was after Ara Nazarian cancelled out Myles McGurty's earlier opener for the visitors.

It was a gritty win to kick off this double-header but it's exactly what Adam Keefe's men needed given their recent fragility.

That is the Giants' first win of 2024. Can they make it a four-point weekend tomorrow night? Join us again then but, for now, thank you for joining us and goodnight from the SSE Arena.

Not for the first time, it's a wonderful save from the Giants goalie as he thwarts Alexander Lunsjo.

The visitors are still very much in this as we enter the last five minutes in Belfast.

A few nervy fans around me here!

Both sets of fans are trading chants and the two teams are trading shots but neither goalie has been breached yet as we reach the halfway mark of the final period.

Both sides have had two power plays each but there have been no goals in any of them as Nottingham survive this latest one.

Jake Ryczek and Logan Neilson have both tested Beskorowany but the Giants tender is equal to them both.

15 to go in the third.

The Giants have had problems of late holding leads but they will be hoping to hold onto the advantage they have as we enter the final 20.

Will Cullen's goal on his second Giants debut has the hosts ahead after 40 minutes.

Adam Keefe will also be delighted with his side's efforts on the other side of the puck as they kept the Panthers out on two separate power plays.

Like they did at the beginning of this period, the Giants will start the third with a man advantage as Stephen Anderson is in the box for Nottingham.

No more goals with five to go in the second but the Giants rode out not one but two Nottingham power plays.

Ben Lake had just returned to the ice when Kohei Sato was sat down for tripping. However, Adam Keefe will be delighted with his side's efforts as they hold the visitors at bay.

Otto Nieminen came closest for them as he almost diverted the puck past Beskorowany from close range.

Apologies to any Panthers fans reading as I may have just cursed your side...

Not the prettiest goal you'll ever see but it's forced over the line by the returning Will Cullen.

Welcome back to Belfast number 55!

The Giants are unable to capitalise on the afore-mentioned power play but have played reasonably well to open the second.

Neither goalie forced into a meaningful save so far in the first five minutes of the second period.

It was an even and entertaining first here at the SSE. Can either side take the initiative?

It's been an even first 20 minutes and the scoreboard reflects that. Myles McGurty gave the visitors a dream start after two minutes but the Giants have dug in and found the leveler from Ara Nazarian's tenth league goal of the season.

Belfast will start the second on the power play with goal-scorer McGurty sat down for slashing with 30 seconds remaining.

"The Belle of Belfast" rings around the SSE Arena as Ara Nazarian hits the Panthers on the breakaway with a neat finish past Robinson.

We are level with five remaining in the first.

The game hasn't really settled since the goal with a frenetic opening ten minutes.

Following a Beskorowany save, the puck rebounded off Travis Brown's skate and almost trickled into the goal while Will Cullen thought he had a dream return but his rasper was well held by Robinson. Matt McLeod also tested the Nottingham goalie to no avail.

It's the away end in raptures after just two minutes as Myles McGurty smashes the puck past Beskorowany from range.

A poor start for the Giants.

It's an electric atmosphere in the building tonight with a sizeable travelling support adding to it.

Tyler Beskorowany is in goal for the hosts while Mike Robinson is between Nottingham's pipes.

The Giants play just their second game of 2024 tonight as they welcome the Nottingham Panthers to town for a weekend double-header.

After their trip to Cardiff to take on the Devils on Sunday was postponed due to fog grounding the team at the airport, Adam Keefe's men will be hoping for better fortunes than last Saturday at the SSE Arena.

That night they surrendered a 3 goal lead to fall in a shootout to the Fife Flyers which meant they started the new year much like they ended the last. They sit third but it is a distant third from runaway league leaders Sheffield.

There is a buzz around the arena tonight, however, as a familiar name and number is back on Belfast ice. David Goodwin has returned along with fellow treble-winner Will Cullen as Adam Keefe hopes these arrivals will give his men a spark and add much-needed leadership and experience.

The visitors are languishing in ninth just one place and point above Fife who they defeated on Sunday, however they have as many as six games in hand on those around them.

These two have played twice this season with the Giants emerging victorious on both occasions, scoring four each time.