Panthers take three-goal advantage into Guildford

Photo: Panthers Images

Nottingham Panthers will head to Guildford on Sunday with a three-goal aggregate lead thanks to a well-deserved 4-1 home victory over the Flames at the Motorpoint Arena.

Period one was probably the best 20 minutes of the Panthers' season. Stephen Anderson gave them an early lead with a laser that beat Eamon McAdam top shelf inside seven minutes. He almost doubled the home side's advantage with an almost identical shot several minutes later but the shot narrowly went over the bar, while David Levin saw his effort come back off the post as the Panthers piled on the pressure. The Flames struggled for any sort of offensive zone time, but in the final minute did call Peyton Jones into a couple of quick saves in succession.

Guildford came out much strong in period two, but as the Flames grew closer to finding a goal, an Adam Brady shot from the wing kept under McAdam's glove and into the net to double the Panthers' advantage with 29:06 on the clock. Again the Flames pushed and had several excellent chances only for Peyton Jones to keep them out. With 4:26 left in the middle period, a Kelly Summers shot was spilled by McAdam straight to Tanner Sorenson to fire home and make it 3-0.

A David Levin breakaway goal as the Flames tried to find a way back into the game put the Panthers 4-0 up with 46:36 played as whatever the visitors tried to do seemed not to work. Daniel Tedesco's fine individual effort did get Guildford on the board late, but it was the Panthers' night as they took a 4-1 win.