Clan make it 20 points from last 11 games

Photo: Panthers Images

Glasgow Clan continued their excellent recent run with their tenth win in their last 11 games thanks to a late show in Nottingham, ending up 4-2 winners when it look like the game might be heading towards overtime.

The result denied the Panthers moving into second ahead of a big weekend of fixtures.

Period one ended all square with a stark contrast in the goals scored. Mitchell Heard produced a contender for goal of the season, beating two Panthers players and then toe-dragging around Jason Grande to open the scoring and put Clan ahead at 4:03. The Panthers were level on a powerplay at 7:28 when Simon Despres played a clearing pass up the middle of his own zone, allowing Otto Nieminen to feed Tim Doherty to fire in the equaliser at 7:28. Clan took two further penalties in the period and were out-shot 10-5, but held firm to end the period at 1-1.

52 seconds into period two, Reid Stefanson put the Panthers into the lead with a top-shelf finish at a start of a period that they'd dominate.

A couple of successive minors on Clan put them on the back foot, and while killing Heard's roughing penalty the Panthers thought they'd gone further ahead at 29:08. The goal was washed out on the ice for goalie interference, although the Panthers opted to use a Coach's Challenge. The decision stood, however, with the Panthers then being given a minor penalty.

At 33:09 Clan's Matt Berry was called for hooking, and Clan were lucky to escape the kill - Chris Martinet's stick breaking and Clan defending for some 30 seconds with only three players with sticks in their hands, also with Brine called into some decent stops.

That penalty kill proved vital, as Clan tied the game with 2:13 left in the period - Liam Finlay feeding Cole Ully on the off side to level it.

Grande was called into action early in period three to ensure the Panthers stayed level, but despite chances at either end it looked like the game was destined for overtime. With Just over three minutes remaining, Ully netted his second of the night in close to put Clan into the lead with just 3:09 to play. 

Grande then made an excellent save to deny Clan scoring fourth on the rush on the next play, and was later pulled with 1:54 to go in favour of the extra skater. Cooper Zech rang a shot from distance off the crossbar in what was probably the home side's best chance with the extra man, as Clan defended the middle of the ice well until the clock ran out on the Panthers.