Nottingham Panthers 1-3 Sheffield Steelers (Elite League) 01.12.19
For the second time in just over a week Elite Ice Hockey League leaders Sheffield Steelers were too hot for Nottingham to handle as they won 3-1 at the Motorpoint Arena.
Last Saturday the Panthers lost in Over Time to Steelers taking the OT loss point on the road in Sheffield but after two good winning results against Manchester Storm and Glasgow Clan this was a more straight forward defeat for Nottingham after a tight two period game the away side came out strongest in the third to take all the points and head the Elite League by three points over Cardiff Devils.
The Steelers opened the scoring after just 1.51 in the opening period but Dylan Malmquist got Panthers back on terms after good work from DeSantis and Hansen.
The two teams went in level at the first and after a scoreless second it was Armstrong who gave Sheffield advantage after 7.51 of the final period and with Panthers throwing the kitchen sink and taking off netminder Kevin Carr in hunt for an equaliser it was Sheffield who capitalised on the vacant goal when Jonathan Phillips slashed into the empty net with less than a minute to play.
That defeat means Nottingham end the weekend in sixth place on 20 points from 19 played but three points ahead of Manchester and the cut off for the playoffs with The Storm to play next at the Motorpoint Arena on Wednesday a win could very much boost that gap.
For that tie Nottingham could be boosted by the new signing of 26 year-old Canadian Ryan Horvat from Charlotte Checkers of the AHL whilst moving out is William Quist who returns to Sweden after struggling to settle in at the Panthers after his move from Herlev.
*Main image @OfficialEIHL Panthers lose at home to the Steelers for the second time this season.
