Nottingham Panthers have had a superb Christmas and New Year period after the side distraction of the Challenge Cup the Motorpoint Arena men have won five of their six matched all be it three of those in over time.
The Panthers started their festive fortnight off with a 6-1 home demolition of Dundee on the 21st December and followed it up a day later with a 3-2 win against the same opposition up in Scotland.
On Boxing Day the Panthers rescued the game from the jaws of defeat to take the match to overtime against Coventry Blaze as Sam Herr completed a hat-trick with just 45 seconds of normal time remaining. Herr completed his most memorable Panthers performance to date by netting the OT winner after just 32 seconds scoring four goals in a 5-4 win.
Two days later Nottingham were again taken to overtime by Coventry with this time Julian Talbot the hero to give the Panthers an away win and their fourth victory in a row.
The New Years Eve match however didn’t go to plan as the Panthers were beaten by rivals Sheffield Steelers 3-2 at the Motorpoint Arena, the league leaders however didn’t have it all their own way as Nottingham won in Sheffield a day later 3-2 after overtime with Sam Herr again the star of the show netting the first before claiming the winner 2 minutes and 49 seconds in to the additional time.
The Panthers are now up to fourth in the Elite League table looking comfortable for playoff places with one eye on those above as they are now just seven points behind top of the table Sheffield with two games in hand.
This month Nottingham travel to Denmark for the finals of the Continental Cup (playing three matches in three days) with a place in this years Champions League up for grabs for the winners. First however Elite League action at the Arena against Dundee on Saturday before a short trip across the Pennines to Manchester Storm on Sunday.
*Main image @PanthersIHC Sam Herr celebrates after scoring against Sheffield.
