Panthers perfect to open season

Photo: Panthers Images

Nottingham Panthers made it a perfect weekend to start the new season, following up a win in Manchester with a 4-3 victory over Guildford Flames at the Motorpoint Arena.

The Panthers raced into a two-goal lead in the opening period, deservedly ending the first 20 minutes ahead. Captain Sam Herr put them ahead at 13:53, while Tim Doherty doubled the lead in close at 18:12. The Flames challenged the play for goaltender interference, but with camera angles inconclusive the call on the ice stood.

Period two saw the Flames back in the game after they killed off the remaining 1:45 of Daniel Tedesco’s slashing minor picked up at the end of the first period. Ryan Tait got the Flames on the board with only a few seconds before the end of a Quinn Wichers interference minor, while Daniel Catenacci took advantage of a turnover in the Panthers’ end to tie things up shorthanded at 30:32.

Having worked hard to tie the scores, the Flames were back behind inside the final minute of the period. Sam Herr put a loose puck home with 47 seconds left in the period to keep the Panthers ahead through 40 minutes.

Hugo Roy's powerplay marker re-established the Panthers' two-goal cushion, and later proved to be the crucial game-winning goal. With Kupsky pulled, Matt Alvaro tipped a Travis Brown shot past Ryan Bednard to bring the Flames back to within one with 1:40 to play. The Flames again went to work on with six skaters and almost tied things on the final play of the game, over for a misplaced pass to triack out of the zone and allow the Panthers to celebrate a hard-earned win.