Game one of the home and home series with the Nottingham Panthers is done and it is advantage Belfast heading to Nottingham tomorrow night. The Giants downed one of their biggest contenders for the league title 6-3 tonight in front of a loud Belfast crowd that got to see a high scoring physical game of hockey – a throwback to the Giants – Panthers games of old that will no doubt have stirred the memories of many. The Giants got two goals from Brits Craig Peacock and Colin Shields while skilled/tough guy Jeff Szwez was ejected from the game for cross-checking and fighting.

Szwez was cross-checked by Panther Corey Neilson as part of a ploy by the Panthers to wind Szwez up. It worked and Szwez retaliated by cross-checking Neilsen in what some are saying was the neck region. It put Neilsen down and coming to his rescue was Cameroon Mann who was quickly pummeled earning Szwez the ejection. Some will be concerned about Szwez’s discipline given the fact other teams are starting to target the Giants most dangerous player, but the Giants still won the game so it didn’t hurt them and the only one hurting in the morning might well be Neilson, and I sure hope that is the case.

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