Clan end Panthers' winning run in shootout

Photo: Panthers Images

Glasgow Clan broke Nottingham Clan's eight-game winning run by giving the Panthers their first home defeat since late December, a 3-2 victory after a shootout at a sold-out Motorpoint Arena.

The game started pretty evenly, but an early powerplay for the Panthers shifted momentum in their direction. Landon Bow saved as Didrik Henbrant didn’t get all of his shot, while the Panthers also saw a few pucks whistle just wide.

Clan scored a textbook powerplay goal with Jason Grande screened by two players as Simon Despres fed a shot through from the point to open the scoring seven seconds past the midway point of the period.

Tim Doherty was sent through on Bow by Davis Bunz but saw his shot saved, although as he went wide, he threw the puck back on net and after a couple of bounced the puck slid across the line to tie the game with 1:10 left in period one.

The best chance of the early stages in period two saw a no-look Doherty pass feed captain Sam Herr in front that Bow was equal to. The Panthers were the better team for some 12 minutes of the second, but fell behind to a Reece Kelly shot from the point finding its way through at 34:33.

At the other end Clan had two excellent chances in front of Grande to add to their lead but saw Keaton Jamieson fire just wide, and Chris McKay shoot straight at the Panthers’ goalie to keep it a 2-1 game through 40 minutes.

Nottingham started period three well and got the equaliser they were looking for - Matt Spencer's shot from the point beating Bow in part thanks to Herr's screen in front at 45:43. Hugo Roy hit a post with just under 13 minutes to go as the Panthers looked to take the lead, while with 11 to go Clan somehow managed to not make use of a 4-on-2 break up the ice.

Herr came closest to putting the Panthers into a late lead when he broke through 1-on-0 shorthanded but only found Bow, while Clan’s best opportunity to win the game came in the final 30 seconds through a scramble in front of Grande’s net that saw Deven Sideroff fire wide on a half-open net.

Both teams had good chances in overtime but without goals, although the Panthers ended on a 20-second advantage after Rylan Schwartz slashed Tim Doherty's stick out of his hands in the slot. 

The shootout was level through five rounds, but in sudden death Cole Ully beat Grande while Kris Kontos couldn't find a way past Bow to give Clan the extra point.