Flames come from behind in Nottingham

Photo: Panthers Images

Guildford Flames inflicted Nottingham Panthers’ first regulation defeat in over a month, coming back from two down at a sold-out Motorpoint Arena to take a 4-2 win.

Ethan Strang hit a post early on but the Panthers were the dominant team in the opening period. The home side were deservedly ahead at 6:44 when a Cooper Zech throw on net from the point took a wild deflection off a Flames defenseman to fool Eamon McAdam and bounce into the back of his net. A well-worked play at 18:37 put the Panthers two up, with Zsombor Garat firing home from the point off a Kris Kontos pass.

The Panthers were almost three up early in period two off another fortunate bounce – this time a pass into the slot hitting Mike Crocock’s skate and almost deflecting past McAdam who made the same. Guildford did well to hang around in the game, and after a period of pressure found their way back into things - Matt Alvaro receiving the puck in the slot and finishing nicely over Jason Grande's glove hand at 36:41.

That goal changed the complexion of the team-talks through 40 minutes, and gave the Flames life. Didrik Henbrant's tripping minor 101 seconds into period three gave the visitors the perfect chance to tie the game, and they took full advantage just eight later when Daniel Catenacci got on the bouncing rebound of a Ryan Tait shot and fired it home.

The Panthers ran into some penalty trouble with 11 minutes remaining in the third, and it was a Delay of Game call for shooting the puck out of bounds that led to the game-winner. Travis Brown broke his stick trying to fire a shot towards Grande, but made enough contact with the puck that it broke kindly for Jack Jacome to fire home at the far post with Grande totally wrong-footed. 3-2Flames with 3:40 to play.

Eamon McAdam made a big save on Kris Kontos speeding towards him with 46 seconds to play as the Panthers pushed for a late equaliser. Danny Stewart called his timeout and pulled Grande at that stoppage, and his side controlled the puck for the next 16 seconds until McAdam was able to freeze the puck again. A bad bounced on the hosts allowed the Flames to break out of the zone 2-on-1, with Josh Waller unselfishly passing to Jack Jacome to slide the puck into the empty net and settle the game with 20 seconds remaining.