Nottingham Panthers host Belfast Giants at the Motorpoint Arena on Friday in the only Elite League fixture of the evening. It will be the teams’ first league meeting this season.
Nottingham have won both of their opening league games, taking four points. They beat Manchester Storm 5-1 and then edged Fife Flyers 3-2, with both wins coming at home. The Panthers return to league play after a 4-2 home defeat to Cardiff Devils in the Challenge Cup on Sunday.
Belfast have eight points from five league games. Their latest league result was a 4-1 win in Cardiff on Wednesday, their fourth league victory this season, following earlier wins over Coventry Blaze, Manchester Storm and Glasgow Clan.
The Giants arrive in Nottingham after winning three consecutive games across both competitions. Two came against Glasgow last weekend, including Sunday’s 2-1 overtime victory that secured top spot in Challenge Cup Group B and the number one overall seed for the semi-finals.