Panthers win in OT, Storm tie late to earn a point

Photo: Mark Ferris

Nottingham Panthers extended their recent good form to 13 points from a possible 14 with an overtime victory on Friday night in Manchester. The Storm tied the game inside the final five minutes to earn a point, their third in two games at home.

After a scoreless opening period that was dominated by penalties, the Panthers took control of the game in the second period. 

Logan Neilson forced a turnover in the Storm zone and worked the puck to Sam Herr who fired high from the slot into Evan Weninger's net at 23:40. 70 seconds later, Hugo Roy shot from a tight angle past Weninger to double the visitors' lead.

Storm were back within one before the break, however, when Jake Durflinger tipped CJ Garcia's blue line shot past Ryan Bednard at 34:57 to halve the deficit.

5:50 into the third, the puck rolled free to Chase Harrison in the slot to fire into the net and tie the game at two each. Storm could only stay level for just over five minutes though, with Didrik Henbrant being left open on the wing to skate in and beat Weninger to give the Panthers the lead back with 8:34 to play.

With less than five minutes remaining on regulation, Neilson attempted to clear the puck up the middle of the ice but instead put it straight ton the stick of Zach Sullivan who's wrist shot beat Bednard low through traffic to tie the game again at 55:32.

Both teams took a point with the scores tied through 60 minutes, but it took just 13 seconds to decide who'd get the extra one - Kristoff Kontos backhanded home in the slot to win it for the Panthers in overtime.