WATCH: Giants 5-2 Panthers
Five star Giants tame Panthers in Sunday clash
The Stena Line Belfast Giants claimed their second win of the weekend against the Nottingham Panthers with a 5-2 victory at The SSE Arena on Sunday. David Rutherford played a starring role with his hat-trick helping the home side take the two points. The win follows Friday’s 7-3 home win over the same opposition and makes it a four point weekend for the Belfast side.
With only 2:19 gone, Michael Quesnele dropped the gloves with the Panthers’ Alex Nikiforuk, following an incident involving the players in the last meeting between the two sides in Nottingham. Both Quesnele and Nikiforuk picked up five minute penalties for fighting.
The visitors opened the scoring on Sunday with Jeff Brown firing his side into a 1-0 lead at 6:49, assists to Matt Carter and Eric Lindhagen. Brown’s goal was the only strike in a quiet opening period in Belfast.
David Rutherford equalised for the Giants at 24:46 with a hammer of a slapshot, assisted by Chris Higgins.
Colin Shields have the hosts the lead for the first time in this game with a fine strike at 31:43, assisted by James Desmarais and Jerome Leduc.
Rutherford netted his second of the game and the Giants third of the night at 45:16 when he followed up on his original effort which struck the crossbar. Rutherford’s goal, assisted by James Desmarais and Adam Keefe gave the home side some breathing space with a two goal advantage.
Blair Riley extended the Giants lead to three goals with a solo effort at 53:15 while the Panthers were on the powerplay. However soon after the visitors pulled one back at 53:51 with Dan Spang shooting into the corner of the Giants net, assisted by Andy Sertich and Alex Nikiforuk.
David Rutherford became the hat-trick hero at 54:30, netting his third of the game, assisted by James Desmarais and Steve Saviano. Rutherford’s third rounded off the scoring with the Giants taking the 5-2 home win over the Nottingham Panthers.
The Giants return to action again on both Friday and Saturday at home against the Sheffield Steelers and Coventry Blaze respectively. Tickets are on sale now online at ticketmaster.ie as well as from The SSE Arena Box Office either in person or by calling 028 9073 9074.