Flames come back from two down to beat Panthers

Photo: John Uwins

Two goals from jack Jacome helped Guildford Flames come back from 2-0 down and beat Nottingham Panthers on Wednesday night.

Both teams entered the game with just two wins in their last five, and the opening phases were understandably nervy.

A minor on Josh Waller led to the Panthers taking the lead at 9:38 -Tim Doherty one-timing Didrik Henbrant's pass into the back of Eamon McAdam's net. Ryan Bednard, at the other end, made an excellent pad save to deny Jack Jacome tying the game before the Panthers doubled their advantage as Henbrant raced away on the rush and beat McAdam high with 2:04 left in period one.

The Flames were struggling to get a lot going but gradually found their way back into the game. Brett Ferguson fed Ryan Tait in the slot to beat Bednard in close on a 2-on-1 4:05 into period two to half the deficit, while at the other end Hugo Roy and Kristof Kontos couldn't find the same result when through on McAdam. Guildford tied the game with 49 seconds left in the period when Jacome tipped Travis Brown's shot past Bednard from the top of the crease.

The hosts completed the turnaround when the Panthers gave the puck away in their own zone straight onto the stick of Ethan Strang who fed Sam Talbot in the slot, with Strang then tapping home with an empty net in front of him 3:13 into the third.

Guildford could, and should, have extended their lead earlier to make the game safe, but the impressive Jacome did eventually give them some breathing space with his side's fourth 2:46 from time. With Bednard pulled, the best chance of a goal fell to Josh Waller who hit the post of the empty net, but the Flames took the two-goal win to snap their losing run.