FEW outside their locker room gave the Nottingham Panthers a prayer of winning a fifth straight Challenge Cup – but they pulled out an incredible performance to halt the seemingly unstoppable Belfast Giants juggernaut.
Trailing the runaway Elite League champions 5-2 from the first leg in Northern Ireland, the Panthers went into the game at the National Ice Centre saying all the right things.
However, few in a raucous crowd would have predicted what was to follow as they won 5-1 on penalties on the night, 7-6 on aggregate.
First period goals from Lynn Loyns and Petr Kalus sparked belief and though that was briefly quelled by Jeff Mason's goal, Panthers were right back on it as Eric Werner also scored in the second period.
Giants were still a goal ahead at that point, but Matt Ryan drew Panthers level with their third power play goal of the night after 48.06.
With the volume turned right up Panthers took it all the way to penalties and there was only one goal as Kalus beat Stephen Murphy.
Craig Kowalski saved from Jeffrey Szwez, Kevin Saurette and Craig Peacock after Werner missed for Panthers.
The home players rushed the ice to mob Kowalski who soon had the fans chanting his name a night after signing a new contract.
There was a big surprise before face-off as Panthers were able to announce a healthy scratch with star centres Brandon Benedict and Matt Francis returning from injury, although neither was 100 per cent.
Triple player of the year award winner Benedict had played just three times since January 30 due to injuries, while Francis had missed the previous two games.
Lynn Loyns switched from defence to offence, leaving Panthers light at the back as they chased the three-goal win.
D-man Brent Henley completed his three-match suspension. Forward Joonas Saari had to be left out with the return of two imports.
Having their key duo back made all the difference to Panthers as they were brilliant in the first period, particularly on power plays as they scored twice.
Giants were penalised for having too many men on the ice after 3.31 and the home side pounced brilliantly. Weaver drilled in the puck from the point and though his shot was saved, the Giants failed to clear their zone as Loyns was able to swivel and slot in past Murphy after 4.07.
The goal was greeted by tremendous noise and as the fans began to believe, Corey Neilson's men grew stronger.
There were still moments of danger as the Giants kept Kowalski honest, forcing him to make a good save from Darryl Lloyd and an outstanding one from Evan Cheverie.
Panthers were soon back in the ascendancy, Leigh Salters putting Calvin Elfring in his place with an absolutely massive hit around the ten minute mark.
Their second power play goal came at 15.28 after Lloyd had been on the receiving end of a soft looking interference call.
A fantastic flowing move saw Greg Jacina work the puck to Ryan and he played it back for Kalus to beat Murphy from just outside the crease.
To get a third goal before the buzzer would have been incredible and it almost came with two seconds left as Panthers, again on the power play, fired just wide of Murphy's goal via Ryan.
Giants were always going to come out firing after being rattled so severely in the opening period. They forced Kowalski into a couple of early saves before earning another power play, which was less threatening than previous ones, although Robert Farmer and Ryan both had shots saved by Murphy.
Belfast were level on the night, 6-4 up on aggregate, after 26.53 as they scored from a spell on four on four hockey.
Francis appeared to have done nothing wrong when both he and Saurette were given two minutes for roughing.
The goal came when Chris Higgins did well to make room for a shot which Mason deflected in from just to the left of Kowalski's goal.
The game opened up a little as Kalus forced the puck through the crease and Mark Garside saw a shot saved.
It was 3-1 on the night on 35.38 as Salters got free down the left. His shot lacked power but when Murphy failed to cover Francis prodded it back for Werner to fire into an empty net and move Panthers to within a goal.
It could have been all square soon after, but Murphy redeemed himself with a good save from David Clarke.
Steve Lee took a holding penalty at 37.19 as he hauled down Keefe, preventing what would have been a massive breakaway chance. Panthers killed the penalty.
Into the third and Panthers were on the wrong end of another harsh call, this time on Benedict for tripping. They almost suffered heartbreak with eight seconds of the penalty left, only for K-Wall to deny Lloyd with a big save.
That proved crucial as Higgins was sent to the box after 48.06 and eight seconds later it was tied up on at aggregate at 6-6 when Ryan smashed in a bullet that rippled into the far corner of the net.
The noise in the NIC was deafening as Nottingham almost went in front when Lee's shot evaded a nervy Murphy and hit the post.
Then with 26 seconds to go Farmer broke away and forced Murphy into a save with his skate as it went to overtime.
There was a huge chance for Jacina 1.13 into the added five minutes, but he was denied, although Belfast picked up a penalty for hooking him back.
Giants survived and almost won it when Robbie Sandrock came out the box but Kowalski stood firm to send it to penalties – and the rest is history.
