Late drama keeps Panthers alive in Europe

Photo: Panthers Images

An empty-net goal from Sam Herr with one second left secured Nottingham a 4-3 win over Polish side Comarch Cracovia to keep the Panthers' hopes of winning the Continental Cup alive.

The Panthers found themselves two down inside sixteen minutes after Damien Kapica and Michal Vachovec struck in the first period for Cracovia; and then things for worse 1:47 into period two with Kapica making it three. 

Jake Hansen led the Panthers' fightback getting them on the board at 27:19, but they needed a late show to turn the game around. Julian Talbot scoring at 50:45 made it 2-3, and then a fantastic tip from Herr on the powerplay levelled things with 4:35 to play. 

In the final stages of regulation, things took a dramatic turn. Cracovia, knowing that anything other than a three-point win would end their chances of winning the competition, pulled netminder Miroslav Kopřiva to try and win the game. That backfired however and with the Panthers breaking in the dying stages Herr found the empty net to send the travelling fans wild.

Nottingham need help from tonight's game between Neman Grodno and hosts SønderjyskE. A win for Grodno would put everything on tomorrow's final game when the Panthers face the Belarussians, while the game going to overtime would open up the possibilities more. SønderjyskE winning in regulation would give the hosts a chance to secure the tournament before the Panthers next hit the high.