Big road win keeps Panthers second

Photo: Derek Black

Nottingham Panthers kept themselves just two points off the top of the Elite League standings with a commanding 7-2 road win over Dundee Stars.

Alexander Lunsjo needed only 52 seconds to pu the Panthers ahead at the Dundee Ice Arena, but they were pegged back through Josh Brittain with 4:54 on the board. Penalties were a problem for both teams in the opening period, with each team taking a pair of minors in the first 20 minutes.

Adam Johnson put the Panthers back ahead 6:12 into period two, and that lead went up to 3-1 when Otto Nieminen beat Kevin Carr in close after the Stars goalie had denied Adam Johnson on a breakaway. Spencer Naas got the hosts back to within one at 32:35, but that was cancelled out 75 seconds later by Didrik Henbrant to keep the Panthers two ahead. 

Johnson made it 5-2 8:36 into the final period, followed by Mathieu Lemay's candidate for goal of the week with a rocket of a one-timer past Carr some three minutes later. Lemay fired another one into Carr's net with just under four minutes to play, after which Lucas Brine took over duties in the Stars net for the remainder of the game.