Panthers get home win

Photo: Panthers Images

Nottingham Panthers got their first home win since mid-December with a one-goal win over Glasgow Clan on Sunday afternoon.

After both teams were involved in high-scoring games on Saturday night, it was no surprise to see them combine for three goals in the opening period on Sunday. With 8:32 played,Myles McGurty's pass into the slot deflected off the skate of Ryan Harrison and past Kevin Lindskoug to put the Panthers ahead. They came close to doubling their lead on a Gary Haden penalty, but with 13:23 on the board an excellent Jordan Kelsall pass across the zone set up Anthony Luciani for a back-post tap in at the second attempt.Haden set up Darien Craighead for a 2-on-1 finish to halve the deficit at 15:03, but only an excellent double save from Lindskoug denied Luciani putting the hosts back two ahead.

Early in period two, Alexander Lunsjo created space for himself an let a wrist shot fly part Lindskoug to put the Panthers back to ahead with 4:41 played in the second. Gary Haden was the beneficiary of a stick snapping on the blue line to race away on a 1-on-0 but couldn't beat Stojanovič when he got to the Panthers zone. The Panthers were laying siege to Lindskoug's net, with Stephen Anderson having two good chances in close, but to no avail. Clan struck back with 3:03 left in the period - Haden won the race to beat out an icing call, and then banked the puck in off the back of Stojanovič from below the goal line and out on the wing to make it a one-goal game again.

In a final period where chances were few and far between, Stojanovič made a double save in close inside the final minutes with Lindskoug pulled for Clan to go with six skaters. Jason Morgan called a timeout with 79 seconds to go, and on the resulting faceoff Darien Craighead saw a shot just whistle wide. Hugo Roy shot narrowly wide on the empty net, but as Clan went on the attack again the home side got bodies in front of Stojanovič to hold on to the one-goal lead and take the win.