Panthers edge out Stars in OT, Neilson gets first win

Photo: Derek Black

Corey Neilson got his first win back as Nottingham Panthers Head Coach thanks to an overtime victory in Dundee, just 24 hours after his side were thrashed 6-1 at home by Fife Flyers.

The sides split four goals in each of the first two periods at the Dundee Ice Arena, with Luke Ferrara opening the scoring just 4:43 into the game. Ben Sokay's tying goal at 11:03 released hundreds of flying teddy bears onto the ice from the home crowd, but when they were tidied away the Panthers did not wait long with an answer of their own - Jack Hopkins's effort from the blue line put them back ahead just 37 seconds later.

Romans Semjonovs netted Dundee's second goal on a 5-on-3 powerplay, one-timing Philippe Sanche's cross-ice pass past Jack Berry to level things up at two each.

Early in period two, former Star Fabrizio Ricci saw his shot bounce onto the chest of Stephen Anderson and deflect past Anton Svensson to put the Panthers back ahead. The Stars, however, equalised again with Philippe Sanche knocking the puck across the line at 29:23. Elijah Barriga put Dundee ahead for the first time in the game when he netted a rebound just in front of the goal at 35:34. Adam Brady blasted a one-timer past Svensson to make the game even on a 5-on-3 powerplay with 64 seconds left in the period.

Period three had no goals, and the game was eventually decided in overtime. Elijah Barriga had a golden chance to win but the puck bobbled over his stick on a 1-on-0, while on 63 minutes JC Brassard was left alone in the slot to fire home the winner for the Panthers.