Nottingham Panthers 5-2 Guildford Flames (Elite League) 11.12.21
Nottingham Panthers picked up two huge Premier Sports Elite League points on Saturday night when they beat fellow playoff contenders Guildford Flames by a comfortable three goal margin.
Kevin Carr started in goal for the Panthers opposite Kevin Lindskoug for the Flames.
Christophe Boivin (2.50) brought the teddy bears down from the stands when he converted on an early powerplay & Jeremy Welsh (4.13) doubled the Panthers lead with a shot in close less than two minutes later.
Ian McNulty (9.56) pulled a goal back for the Flames but it was Nottingham who went into the first intermission holding a one-goal advantage.
Boivin (25.08) scored his second of the game with a speculative shot from distance with Lindskoug screened.
A quick shot from Ollie Betteridge (48.34) put the Panthers three goals to the good in the third and, after Jake Bolton (53.40) gave Guildford some late life, a Robbie Baillargeon empty-net goal (59.50) sealed the two Premier Sports Elite League points on offer.
The win see’s the Panthers fifth after thirteen games played with the gap now closed to three points on the Flames who lie third having played four matches more.
Tonight the Panthers are back in ice action in Belfast as they take the short flight to the land of the Giants who are fourth in the table, a win for Nottingham will see them leapfrog their hosts in the standings.
Face off is at 4pm at the SSE Arena with the next home match for Nottingham on Wednesday as the Panthers welcome Manchester Storm to the Motorpoint.
*Main image @PanthersIHC the Panthers players celebrate extinguishing the Flames.
