Flames into third with OT win

Photo: Panthers Images

Guildford Flames climbed into third in the Elite League standings with a 2-1 overtime win in Nottingham, giving them their third straight win since a shootout loss in Manchester on Boxing Day. Nottingham earned a deserved point in front of 5,080 fans at the Motorpoint Arena. 

The Flames controlled the opening phases of the game, but both goalies were called into excellent saves in the first period. After Steven McParland deflected a shot just wide of Rok Stojanovič's net, the Slovene goalie was on hand to thwart a breakaway and keep the game scoreless. Heading the other way, Eamon McAdam saw a shot come off the top of his helmet and then the crossbar. The deadlock was broken with 14 minutes played. A delayed penalty on Jordan Klimek, who was also without a stick, put the Panthers on a 6-on-5 advantage - Westin Michaud eventually worked a loose puck to McAdam's net which was put home by Hugo Roy. That lead lasted only 126 seconds, however, with Ryan Hughes sneaking a shot under Stojanovič's pad after an excellent Ben O'Connor pass into the slot.

If the Flames shaded the opening period, the Panthers definitely had the better of the middle frame. McAdam was called into a string of sprawling, lat-ditch saves to keep the scores level as the Panthers threw 14 shots on the Flames' net. Guildford also survived a couple of penalty kills where they were unable to get changes due to excellent puck possession from the Panthers. In the closing minutes of the period, Ryan Tait had a breakaway saved by the shoulder of Stojanovič as the Flames looked dangerous, but the period ended without goals.

Period three also ended scoreless, but as it draw on it was the Flames who had the better of the possession and chances as their extra legs started to show. The game ended tied at one each after 60 minutes and was decided in overtime by a nice toe-drag from Matt Tugnutt who then beat Stojanovič five-hole to give the Flames the extra point 1:58 into bonus hockey.