Baillargeon double wins it for Panthers

Photo: John Uwins

Guildford came back from two down but then let a third-period lead slip to go down 4-3 to the Nottingham Panthers on the Flames' Pride night.

The Panthers, playing their first game since firing Tim Wallace as Head Coach, had the better start in Surrey and carved out a two-goal lead after 20 minutes. Matt Myers did well to intercept Jake bolton's clearing pass up the middle and set Olli Betteridge through to beat Kevin Lindskoug with 14:18 played. Just under three minutes later, the Panthers benefitted from a couple of lucky bounces in the offensive zone and the puck fell to Christophe Boivin to shoot home at 16:55.

Guildford had created some half chances but very little else for most of the opening period, however found their way back into the game 2:05 before the end of the period. Brett Ferguson was the man to get them back to within one with a slapshot that tricked through Kevin Carr's pads and into the net. The Panthers survived a late penalty to end the period ahead.

Having been quiet for the opening 20 or so minutes of the game, the Flames burst into life in period two. Good work behind the net form John Dunbar led to a Spencer Trapp slapshot, but a deflection put the puck kindly into the path of Jordan Cownie for the empty net finish at 30:16. With 54 seconds left in the period, the Flames took a deserved lead when Owen Griffiths' shot was blocked en route to Carr but Dunbar found the rebound on his stick for a tap in.

The Flames had a couple of chances to extend their lead at the start of period three but couldn't take advantage of the odd man rushes to put the game to bed. That came back to haunt the hosts at 46:30 when Mark Matheson's slapshot deflected into the path of Robbie Baillargeon to bat home on the powerplay. Baillargeon then stole the game for the Panthers when he got on to his own rebound with 3:17 to play.

Kevin Lindskoug was pulled for the final 90 seconds as the Flames looked for an equaliser, but a combination of sticks and bodies in front of Kevin Carr kept the puck away from the Panthers net and the visitors too a much-needed road win.

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