The Panthers fell behind after 6 minutes to a Johan Molin goal but levelled things four minutes later as Clayton Norris scored assisted by Poirier and Sjogren. The Eagles were in front again within 2 minutes as Cam Bristow scored on the powerplay following a penalty against Darren Maloney.

The only goal of the second period went the Eagles way as Phil Crowe scored after 26 minutes. The Panthers had chances on the powerplay following two penalties against the Eagles for having Too Many Men but could not convert.

The players both had options on their existing deals, subject to certain criteria being met, and the club has taken up those options to keep the pair with Panthers.

A club spokeswoman said. "There is always a lot of speculation at this time of year. People put two and two together and make somewhere around 33. The management knew what was hapenning with PC and Barry and their return should be seen as a determination for the club to do even better next season."

Top Goal Scorer:
Award Shared by Greg Hadden and Patrik Wallenberg (21 Goals)

Top Points Scorer:
PC Drouin

Most Consistent Player:
Patrik Wallenberg

Most Entertaining Player:
Barry Nieckar

Players' Player of the Year:
Danny Lorenz

MVP:
Danny Lorenz

Sponsor's Player of the Year:
Lee Jinman

Services to the sport:
Randall Weber

Gary Rippingale Memorial Award:
Randall Weber

The first period was rather lackluster in comparison to the previous evening for the Panthers. Neither side created any real clear cut chances despite both having a powerplay opportunity.

The second period was a different story as Special teams scored four of the five goals in the period. The first goal went the storm's way as Dan Preston scored on the powerplay with a soft shot that somehow beat Danny Lorenz, but their joy was short lived as the Panthers had the game tied within 3 minutes thanks to their own powerplay goal from Lee Jinman, who netted after some great play by P.C. Drouin.

The Panthers made it 2-1 on their very next powerplay chance, within 13 seconds of the penalty call, Patrik Wallenberg had the puck in the net following good work by Jinman and Drouin. The Panthers third goal could not have been scripted better, as Randall Weber netted with the Panthers on the penalty kill following a call against Clayton Norris. The Storm got themselves back in the game with 4 minutes to go in the second period, as they scored the only even-strength goal of the period thanks to Trevor Gallant, who scored from the goal line after another soft shot beat Danny Lorenz.

The third period saw the Panthers regain their two goal lead, with the goal of the night as P.C. Drouin capped his man of the match performance with a wonder goal. The Panthers were unable to hang on to the lead and allowed the Storm to reduce the lead with ten minutes to go as Rob Wilson scored on the powerplay. Ivan Matulik scored the games final goal with four minutes to go and despite Paul Adey calling a timeout with 22 seconds to go, the Panthers could not find a fifth goal for victory.

The Panthers complete their fixture's in Ayr on Friday night, by this time they will have an idea if it's possible to qualify for the final four Playoff weekend. The odds are very much staked against the Panthers.

Man-of-the-Match for Nottingham Panthers: P.C. Drouin
Man-of-the-Match for Manchester Storm: Rob Wilson

The bright opening for the Panthers was briefly halted by a call against Barry Nieckar for a High Stick after he caught Bees' Brad Peddle in the face but 23 seconds later it would be 4 on 4 following a call against Bees' Ciccarello. The Panthers took the lead on 8 minutes thanks to Captain P.C. Drouin who managed to break his goal scoring duck after a goal mouth scramble and the relief on Drouin's face was clear to see. Both teams then had powerplay chances but could not convert to leave the Panthers leading 1-0 at the first break.

Despite starting the second period on the powerplay the Panthers were under pressure from the Bees for most of the period but Danny Lorenz would stand on his head to keep the Panthers in the game. Bracknell thought they had scored around the half an hour mark but it was ruled out as referee Hanson thought Dan Ceman had kicked the puck in, much to the relief on the Panthers.

The Bees continued to press but it would be the Panthers who scored next as they broke on a 2 on 1 leaving Patrik Wallenberg to fire a rocket of a shot past Greer to make it 2-0 and 48 seconds later it was 3-0 thanks to Claude Savoie's second of the playoffs. Savoie fanned on the first shot but luckly it fell to Jinman behind the net who gave it striaght back to Savoie who made no mistake on the second attempt. The Bees managed to break Danny Lorenz shut-out with 48 seconds remaining in the second as former Panthers Blake Knox scored.

The third period was pretty much even with neither team adding to the scoreline but it was the Panthers who came close to increasing their lead as Nieckar hit the bar and Drouin hit the post. Tonights performance was the best in a along while but it will count for nothing if they don't play like that on Sunday afternoon against the Manchester Storm.

Finally, ahead of the big presentation of awards on Sunday, the Panthers supporters club made their presentations tonight. Firstly, the 'Most exciting player' award went to number 72 Lee Jinman, while the Supporters Club Player of the Year award went to number 5 Patrik Wallenberg. So congratulations to both of them.

Attendance: 4144
Man-of-the-Match for Nottingham Panthers: Barry Nieckar
Man-of-the-Match for Bracknell Bees: Daniel Ceman

Coaching Responsibilities: "Nottingham Panthers have put team affairs, coaching and bench, solely in the hands of Paul Adey for the remainder of the play-offs. The club cannot make any further comment at this time."

DAMPIER SACKED Radio Nottingham are reporting that Director of Hockey Alex Dampier has been sacked. The report the reason likely to be the Panthers failer to perform in the playoffs under his management. More News when available.

The start of the game was delayed 15 minutes following an accident on the motorway which London was caught up in and after just 27 seconds the game was delayed again due to the plexiglas smashing following a big hitting start to the game.

Despite being out-shot 10 to 9 in the first period, it was the Panthers that took the lead after 14 minutes as Wallenberg fired home from the left wing but the lead lasted just four minutes as London levelled the game through Mansi following a defensive mistake by Brent Pope.

The second period was pretty even period and despite their being no goals there was still plenty of action as players continued push and shove following the play. Knights netminder Trofimenkoff made a great save to deny P.C. Drouin on the Panthers best chance of the period.

The third period continued much the same until Sacratini managed to deflect home a Gerald Adams shot which looped over Danny Lorenz to the Knights the lead. The Panthers continued to press which left all the players in a heap with Trofimenkoff on the bottom in his crease with 1.01 to go. The Panthers then called a timeout and pulled Lorenz but it took the Knights just 8 seconds to seal the game with an empty net goal from Sacratini.

Man-of-the-Match for Nottingham Panthers: Danny Lorenz
Man-of-the-Match for London Knights: Dave Trofimenkoff

Another cracking display by Steelers netminder Ryan Bach who made 32 saves was the reason the Panthers got nothing from this game. The only time the Panthers managed to beat him was after Hakkinen had been lifted for an extra skater on a delayed penalty call against Paul Kruse for Tripping. Tait fired in from the right and Savoie deflected home on the doorstep.

Bach continued to stand on his head as he made two point-blank saves in the opening period then a double save from Hadden and Savoie late in the second. In the final session he beat Sjogren in a race to the puck, leaping out of the way, picked himself off the ice and got back into his net to deny Norris pushing through the middle.

Otherwise the nearest Nottingham came to scoring was when Wallenberg's shot from the left was turned onto the far post by Bach early in the second. Hakkinen was also in excellent form for the Panthers as he made an highlight stop, with a fantastic save when he gloved Bobyck's shot at the left post. But he could nothing about the game winner as Laniel fired home when Hakkinen had broken his stick. Earlier, the ISL's highest goal scorer Chris Lipsett was released through the middle and made no mistake from close-in.

Nottingham tried to impose their authority on the game with their usual physical approach but it was the Giants who started the brighter. Indeed it took the Panthers 12 minutes 13 seconds before they registered their first shot on goal. The Panthers seemed intent on making sure the Giants knew they were in for a tough match. Brent Pope wanted to challenge both Paxton Schulte and Jason Bowen after only two minutes but ref Nigel Boniface was in quick to sort things out.

The Giants opened the scoring on the powerplay after Jimmy Drolet was given 2 minutes for hooking. Chad Allan found Jason Ruff behind Danny Lorenz's goal and the former Frankfurt Lion played a perfectly weighted pass to Jeff Hoad who struck the puck home from the left hand circle. Barry Nieckar and Clayton Norris both doubled teamed on Jason Bowen in the corner. Bowen responded by going after Norris but slipped as they were about to trade punches and neither landed a blow.Giants finished the stronger put poor finishing from Jason Ruff and Dave Matsos meant the Giants only went one up at the end of the first period.

The Panthers had the opportunity to level the scores at the start of the second period when Curt Bowen was given two mins for hooking. However the Giants wheather the storm and the only thing the Panthers had to show for their efforts was a shot from Jimmy Paek which was expertly saved by Mike Bales. The Giants made it two on 26:13 when Rod Stevens netted after a wonderful pass from Hoad. Terran Sandwith looked to have scored on 30:26 when he found a way past Lorenz after a beautiful move which involved Sean Berens. However ref Boniface disallowed it amazingly believing Colin Ward had been in the crease. The disallowed goal only made the Giants more determined to score another goal which they did through Berens (unassisted) on 31:03. A fourth came six minutes later when Hoad struck a fantastic shot which baffled Lorenz. The goalie was injured trying to save the shot and was replaced by Pasi Hakkinen.

The third period saw the Panthers out-shoot the Giants but again failed to find the net as Bales completed a 29 shot shutout. The completed the scoring thanks to Former Panthers Jeff Hoad who completed his hat trick on 51:23 and Sean Berens who scored his second of the night to make it six on 53:11.

The Panthers now travel to arch-rivals the Sheffield Steelers knowing they have to get something from the game if they are to progress to the final four.

The club present their individual and club awards on the ice and over three thousand fans watched the event last season. It is likely to follow a similar format this season but there is likely to be a few surprises as well.

33-year-old Canadian-born forward Weber had officially "retired" at the end of the 1999-2000 season, when he became rink manager of the new National Ice Centre but was persuaded to play on a match-by-match basis when Panthers were hit by injuries the next season, but now believes it's time to call it a day.

Weber, looking forward to the play-offs which start for Panthers tomorrow in Belfast, said: "The players reckon they're only retiring my number to stop me playing, because my shirt will be hung where I can't reach it!"

Off ice Randall is unsure about his immediate future but it seems likely he will be heading back to Canada, taking with him his experience he has gleaned as rink manager at the NIC. Weber said "We've been toying with the idea of returning for a while and this may just be the time to do it.

A club spokeswoman said : �Our sport, more than any other, is a team effort. And we have always said our fans are a part of that effort, especially when we play at home. A few years ago we had a successful �white-out� game when we asked the fans to wear white for a big home play-off fixture. Now that we wear traditional black and gold this season we are asking everyone at the games to wear their team colours with pride. Replica shirts are an obvious way to wear the colours and hundreds of our fans do just that, but we�d like to go one stage further by asking everyone to wear either black coloured clothes or gold. It would be an awesome and hopefully intimidating sight for the visiting teams if they were faced by walls of Panthers black and gold in the stands.�

The starting line-up for the Panthers was netminder Danny Lorenz with Jimmy Paek, Brent Pope, Patrick Wallenberg, assistant PC Drouin and Lee Jinman. Olympic gold medalist Geraldine Heaney drops the puck for the face off and the Panthers immediately put the pressure on with a great shot on goal causing Mike Bales to save ending up with his feet in net and took the lead as Claude Savoie opened the scoring at 01:40 with assists from Lee Jinman and PC Drouin. But five minutes later Rob Stewart pulls back for the Belfast squad assists by Kevin Riehl and Sean Berens. Not resting on their laurels the home team step out in front thanks to 'Super' Sean Berens assisted by Chad Allan at 14:15. The Giants completed an impressive first period when they made it 3-1 at 16:22 thanks to Kevin Riehl assisted by Jason Ruff and Rob Stewart.

the Giants made it 4-1 through Rod Stevens who scores assisted by Captain Jeff Hoad at 23:14, the Panthers changed netminder with Pasi Hakkinen replacing Danny Lorenz. There was no further scoring in the second although the Panthers went close as Jimmy Paek has a slapshot chance padded away by netminder Bales and the rebound caused confusion which resulted in the net being knocked loose.

The third period saw the Giants go on the powerplay following a penalty against Pope for roughing but the penalty is killed, the Panthers then manage a few attacking shots on goal which results in the Panthers beating Mike Bales to pull one back thanks to Lee Jinman assisted by Calude Savoie and PC Drouin at 48:48. The Panthers again went back to penalty kill mode a penalty called at 54:33 against Clayton Norris who received 2 minutes for hitting from behind and 10 minutes for misconduct. The Panthers make a brilliant play while killing the penalty to score shorthanded. Greg hadden assisted by Christian Sjogren and just as you thought the Panthers might get something from the game, it was over just 7 seconds later as Sean Berens scored his second of the night assisted by Reihl and Schulte. The Giants made it six as Dave Matsos slotted one home.

Attendance: 7,100 (Sell-out)
Man-of-the-Match for Belfast Giants: Rod Stevens
Man-of-the-Match for Nottingham Panthers: Lee Jinman

Ryan Gillis has been traded by the Jackson Bandits whom he joined after leaving the Panthers to league rivals Macon Whoopee.

While former Panthers favourite Kevin Hoffman has come out of retirement to join former team mate and Panthers netminder Jordan Willis at Roanoke Express. Since joining hte Express Hoffman has been pointless in three games so far.

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