Belfast Giants came from 3-1 down to beat Nottingham Panthers 4-3 at the SSE Arena on the weekend they won the league title, capping a two-game home stand with four points out of four.
The Giants handed an Elite League debut to Cameron Hamill, with him joining his brother Carter and defenceman Kell Beattie as three Belfast-born players on the Giants’ starting line.
Gabe Bast put the home side ahead just over 12 minutes into the game, before the Chase Pearson show took over for the visitors. He levelled when he was left all alone in the slot at 13:36 for his first of the night.
Pearson then put the Panthers ahead 6:50 into the second period with a bar-down finish off an excellent backhanded pass from Jordan Kelsall out in front. Just 52 seconds later, the American completed his hat trick when Didrik Henbrant’s pass found him at the back post to tap home.
Ciaran Long beat Jason Grande through a screen at 36:24 to pull one back for the hosts, who were then level just 25 seconds later through Ben Lake.
In the third, a moment of individual brilliance from Jordan Kawaguchi, who cut in from the wing and backhanded through Grande’s five-hole, won the game for the Giants with 5:17 to play.
The Giants head into Manchester on Sunday.
Photo: William Cherry
