Nottingham Panthers 3-4 Coventry Blaze *aot (Elite Series) 17.04.21

The Nottingham Panthers went into Saturday night’s game against Coventry Blaze looking to make it three wins in the week after already beating the Manchester Storm on Wednesday and Sheffield Steelers Friday night.

Ben Bowns got the start in goal for the Panthers opposite Jordan Hedley for the Blaze.

Despite peppering Hedley’s goal Nottingham couldn’t find a way through in the first period and against the run of play Tristan Keck (16.02) gave the Blaze lead after the first 20 minutes.

The Panthers continued there shooting onslaught in the second frame and they finally broke their duck with just over a minute remaining in the period when Christophe Boivin (38.58), parked at the top of the crease, picked up a rebound and slid the puck home on the backhand.

Parity was short-lived though as Tristan Keck (39.50) scored on the breakaway to send Coventry into the third period with a one-goal lead despite being outshot 31 to seven.

An early third period powerplay opportunity went by the wayside for the Panthers and when the Blaze went to the powerplay they made Nottingham pay, Luke Ferrara (49.22) beating Bowns up high.

The Panthers got back within one when Austin Cangelosi (52.12) beat Hedley with a wicked shot after a great cross ice feed from Boivin, on a five-on-three powerplay chance.

Nottingham got themselves back on level terms a few minutes later when Mark Matheson’s (55.55) shot through heavy traffic had eyes and hit the back of the net to tie the game at three.

Austin Cangelosi, Nick Dineen, Brendan Ellis & Dominic Talbot-Tassi were called on for the last 1.28 of regulation after Matheson was sent to the box for “roughing” and they put their bodies on the line on multiple occasions to ensure the Panthers skated out with at least a point.

Nottingham killed the remainder of the penalty but a shot from the left wing would prove too hot to handle for Bowns and Ross Venus (61.33) was on hand to tap home the rebound and give Coventry the extra point on offer.

*Main image @PanthersIHC it wasn’t to be but Panthers have had a good week.