Panthers edge past Devils in key Cup win

Photo: Panthers Images

Nottingham Panthers moved four points clear at the top of Challenge Cup Group A with a 3-2 home win over Cardiff Devils. 6,189 fans saw them do it at the Motorpoint Arena, with some 200 travelling from Cardiff.

After an opening 10 minutes that was scoreless largely thanks to Ben Bowns in the Devils net, Tim Doherty finally beat the visitors' goalie with an excellent top-shelf wrist shot on the powerplay with 13:24 played. Just 25 seconds later, Didrik Henbrant did excellently to win the puck back in the offensive zone, and eventually the puck broke to Sam Herr in front to slot home past a stranded Bowns to double the home side's lead.

Riley Brandt's roughing minor 6:17 into period two ultimately came back to cost the Devils in the game. 25 seconds into the man advantage, a Matt Alfaro shot took a few deflections and looped into the back of Bowns' net. The goal was credited to Herr but may well have come off Hugo Roy at the top of the crease.

Three behind but with 33 minutes still to play, the Devils needed something – and they got it through former Panther Brett Perlini with 5:40 left in the middle period. Cole Sanford made things interesting with a second for the Devils with 7:06 remaining in the final period, but despite some pressure they failed to call Ryan Bednard into any big saves. Bowns was pulled with 64 seconds to play, but the Devils couldn’t find a tying goal and the Panthers took an important Cup win.