Stephen Schultz scored the game-winning goal as Nottingham Panthers beat Belfast Giants 4-3 in the first leg of the playoff quarter-final at the National Ice Centre.
After no goals in the first period, the game sparked into life with five second-period goals.
The Panthers went 2-0 ahead with two goals in four minutes, with Brad Moran scoring at 29:27 and Juraj Kolnik netting on the powerplay at 33:17. But that was the cue for Belfast to roar back with three goals in six minutes.
Mike Wilson (33:56), Chris Higgins (35:57) and Mike Forney (39:17) were all on target.
Panthers turned it around in the third period as Cam Janssen netted at 44:42 and Schultz got the winner at 48:51.
The second leg is in Belfast on Monday night at 7pm.
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