Storm beat Panthers in 11-goal thriller

Photo: Mark Ferris

Manchester Storm came from behind three times before taking a third-period lead they never looked back from on the way top beating Nottingham Panthers in front of 1,741 fans at the Storm Shelter.

Depending on whether you're a Storm or Panthers fan, the first minute of this encounter was either a disaster or excellent. 

The Panthers raced into a two-goal lead as they beat Jason Bacashihua twice in the opening 46 seconds. Massimo Carozza got the first with only 20 seconds played, before he then fed Kevin Massy who in turn set up Jeremy Welsh for the second at 00:46. 

Storm stabilised things as the period progressed, and got themselves back into things with 3:36 left in the period - a scramble around the net on the powerplay eventually saw the puck break to Dallas Ehrhardt who made no mistake with his finish from the slot.

Scott Simmonds tied things 3:03 into period two as the Storm made use of a man advantage after Kevin Carr couldn't hold Dallas Ehrhardt's shot from the point. Ollie Betteridge put the visitors back ahead some three minutes later as he rushed in at the back post off an excellent pass from Sean Richards. Storm rallied and levelled again, this time with 31:57 on the clock but again on the powerplay, captain Ehrhardt jumped on a loose puck with bodies in the slot.

Robbie Baillargeon reestablished the Panthers' lead eight minutes into the final period, but Cam Critchlow jumping on a rebound from Tyson Fawcett's initial shot tied the game with 8:18 to play. Another penalty on the Panthers cost them as they fell behind with 6:28 left, with Fawcett's shot deflecting in off Jared Vanvormer. 47 seconds later, an innocuous-looking Finlay Ulrick wrist-shot beat Carr short side to give the Storm a two-goal cushion. Vanwormer founds the empty net with 49 seconds left to round off a thriller in Manchester.