MISSED chances again cost Nottingham Panthers dearly as they crashed to a 6-3 defeat to Belfast Giants at the Odyssey Arena.

And Corey Neilson's side will be aiming to make immediate amends when the sides meet again at the National Ice Centre tonight .

After a dull and lifeless first period, the visitors trailed 2-0, but hit back after the break in an incident-packed middle session of five goals.

Panthers netted three on the bounce to lead 3-2 by the 35th minute, with goals from Mario Larocque – his first for the club – David Clarke and Sean McAslan.

But the Giants stormed back to go into the third period holding a 4-3 lead and they wrapped it up late on with two more, including an empty-netter.

Getting two of Belfast's goals and their man of the match award was Craig Peacock, the 21-year-old son of former Panthers player Tim.

The game, which was tighter than the scoreline suggests, wasn't without it's controversy either.

Panthers pulled one back (24.32) with Larocque netting from Cameron Mann's rebound after Colin Shields (6.01) and Peacock (12.43) had put Belfast in charge following errors in the visitors' defence.

But on the half-hour mark, Belfast star Jeff Szwez needlessly clattered into Panthers' Neilson and was ejected from the game with a cross-checking penalty.

That sparked Belfast's enforcer Sean McMorrow chirping into life from the bench, but he was denied the fight he clearly wanted.

And Panthers responded to go in front with Clarke finally getting one to stick on the resulting power-play (30.29), followed by a third from McAslan less than five minutes later, his 100th league goal.

It was no more than Panthers deserved after twice hitting the post.

But they had no one to blame but themselves for letting the game get away from them.

In a frantic two minute spell, Steve Thornton levelled for Giants (36.03) before Michael Jacobsen restored Belfast's lead on a double-powerplay.

Panthers had a goal washed out at the start of the third, but should really have pulled it back when Kevin Bergin missed two great chances.

The visitors also squandered another 5-on-3 powerplay before Peacock made them pay with a fifth (58.42), and Giants rubbed it in with the empty-netter from Shields (59.44).