Panthers and Blaze look for rebound

Photo: Scott Wiggins

The Nottingham Panthers host the Coventry Blaze in the early game of Super Sunday with both teams looking to end the week on a positive note.

Panthers were heavily beaten by Sheffield yesterday and have the quick turnaround for the second game inside 20 hours. They have one win so far this week, which came against Manchester.

Coventry played on Friday night and earned themselves a point against the Storm with a late comeback, the second time they've taken that team to overtime. Their only win of the series so far was against the Panthers, a 3-1 win seven days ago.

Special teams could prove key in this one, and the Blaze head into the game second in the series on the powerplay (21.43%) and penalty kill (84.62%) - only the Panthers have a better PK (86.67%). At 13%, the Panthers will need more from their PP as the tournament progresses.

Tristan Keck leads the offensive scoring for the Blaze with 3+2 through four rounds so far with his first team outside of North America. The addition of Luke Ferrara to the lineup midweek gives Danny Stewart more options up top.

Canadian Kevin Domingue has been the Panthers' biggest threat upfront so far with four goals in as many games; while Mike Hammon and Austin Cangelosi have dominated the faceoff circle for the Blazes and Panthers respectively.

Team news
Tim Wallace alluded to Ben Bowns not being 100% in his post-game interview following the defeat to Sheffield. Jackson Whistle played 40 minutes of that game, giving the Panthers options in net. Both netminders are under 90% of shots saved so far.

Coventry are expected to recall Shane Owen as starting goalie after resting him in the defeat to Sheffield. The former FIfe and Belfast starter has turned away 89.72% of the shots he's faced so far this season. Austin Mitchell-King is likely to be a healthy scratch again.