Nottingham Panthers 9-1 Coventry Blaze (Elite League) 13.04.22
Nottingham Panthers fans have had to endure some pretty awful displays in recent weeks but tonight the home crowd at the Motorpoint Arena witnessed the best display of the season by some way with nine goals in succession before a late Coventry consolation.
Just ten days ago Coventry hit ten at Nottingham in between a 6-2 loss against Sheffield Steelers and an 8-3 embarrassment at Dundee Stars but last week the Panthers ended a four game losing run by overturning the Blaze 6-4 in the West Midlands before undoing that good work with a fifth defeat in six at home to Guildford Flames on Sunday.
Tonight however, things were different.
Buoyed by their loan capture of netminder James Downie from Manchester Storm until the end of the season, much-needed after leaking goals since the injury of mainstay Kevin Carr, Nottingham went to town in the first period and shot to a three zip lead with goals from Jeremy Welsh, Matthew Lane and Robbie Baillargeon.
If the opening period was good for Nottingham, the second one went even better as the home side netted five unanswered, first through Christophe Boivin, then again through Jeremy Welsh on a powerplay, a second for Lane assisted by Baillargeon before Kevin Massy made it 8-0 at the end of the first two thirds.
17-year-old Jack Hopkins then got on the scoresheet in the final period before Evan Bloodoff pulled one back for Blaze, the night however belonging to Nottingham in dominant mood against their Midland rivals.
Just one game now remains with the Panthers confirmed fourth spot in the Elite League table. On Sunday Nottingham host third placed Cardiff in a dead rubber, before the Playoff campaign gets well and truly under way.
*Main image @PanthersIHC the Nottingham players celebrate during a powerful display.
