Belfast Giants 3-6 Nottingham Panthers

The Belfast Giants opened their Elite League campaign with a heavy defeat at home to the Nottingham Panthers.

It ended their 100% start to the season which had been built up with a perfect run in the early stages of the defence of their Challenge Cup.

The first period was evenly matched with chances for both sides throughout, despite the lack of goals.

Its tense nature made the following period all the more shocking, as the Giants collapsed after the first interval.

The Panthers scored first at 20:42 through Luke Pither, who then turned provider to assist Kevin Henderson to score the second at 31:29, finding the net from the top of the crease.

A quickfire third followed at 33:47 with Jayden Rissling rounding a defenceman before slamming into the net.

Ollie Betteridge completed the second period rout with the 4th goal at 37:34.

The visitors kept up the scoring into the final period as Justin Kovacs made it 5-0 at 45:26.

However, there was still time for the Giants to threaten an extremely improbably comeback with a couple of goals on the powerplay.

Justin Roach pulled one back at 47:56, Dustin Johner grabbed the second at 52:35, and a third at 58:31 - but the Panthers grabbed a 6th between his double, and claimed the victory.