Panthers end 2021 with home win

Photo: Panthers Images

Nottingham ended 2021 with a 5-3 home win against Manchester, who filled in the fixture earlier on Friday when Coventry were laced into COVID19 protocol.

The Panthers, who suffered two defeats to rivals Sheffield immediately after Christmas, were ahead just 82 seconds in when Matt Myers slapped the puck home from a tight angle while Dallas Ehrhardt sat a hooking minor. 

Manchester levelled at 2:41 through Linden Springer to cap a busy opening few phases at the Motorpoint Arena, but that was to be the final goal of the first period.

Panthers took control of the game in period two with some timely goals. Jordan Kelsall re-established their lead at 24:29 when he finished shorthanded on a kill where the Panthers had looked dangerous on the counter-attack.  Storm were guilty of trying a pass too many on several odd-man rushes during the period, but were made to pay for missed opportunities when Matt Lane's wrist shot went high blocker side past the returning Matt Ginn.

Robbie Baillargeon's shot slipped out of the Storm goalie's glove and into the net with 40 seconds left in the period to make it 4-1 after 40 minutes.

Christophe Boivin was credited with the home side's fifth goal with the final tip at 47:05, but Storm pulled one back with 9:24 to play thanks to Linden springer's shot going all the way through from the blue line.

Tyson Fawcett made it interesting at 51:27. An excellent Scott Simmonds feed found the centre parked in front of Carr and he poked it through to cut the deficit to two goals. That was as good as it got for the Storm in the closing stages however, and the Panthers held on for a much-needed win.

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