After recently losing their eight-game winning streak, suffering back-to-back losses to first Glasgow Clan, then Belfast Giants, the latter in the semi-final first leg of the Challenge Cup, the Nottingham Panthers returned to winning ways in devastating fashion this past weekend.

Cin claiming a double-header, four-point Elite League success, the Panthers well and truly put Midlands rivals, Coventry Blaze, to the sword, winning 6-2 at their Motorpoint Arena home on Saturday night, before following it up with 6-4 win at the SkyDome Arena on the Sunday.

Victories keep them in third place in the league standings, a point off second place Sheffield Steelers, and seven behind leaders Belfast, who have played a game more.

At the Motorpoint, on Saturday, and in front of a raucous, rapturous, Panthers Nation, the hosts roared to success late on, the first two periods more about asserting dominance as men, rather than scoring goals.

The Panthers led 2-1 at the end of the first, Josh Tetlow (image courtesy of @PanthersImages) opening the scoring with his first of the season (4:30), before the visitors quickly levelled through Chase Grescock less than two minutes later.

That score last less than thirty seconds however, the Panthers regaining their advantage when Mitch Fossier set up Sam Herr to fire a bullet of shot past Mat Robson between the visiting pipes.

Robson was on-hand not long after to keep the early score down, denying Kristoff Kontos a penalty score after Herr was hooked, the Panthers taking a narrow lead into the second.

No goals were scored by either side in the second period, but there were plenty of chances, and a few fisticuffs for added measure, much to the delight of those in attendance; Panthers netminder, Jason Grande, was again in irrepressible form when keeping the Blaze at bay – when called upon.

The Blaze thought they’d equalised at the end of the second period but, following a review, the buzzer had already sounded, goal disallowed.

Josh Tetlow and Grayson Constable lit up the second period themselves though as both dropped gloves, and went at it hammer-and-tongs – the fans certainly took to that one!

Then came the final period, and a Panthers goal-flurry.

In a little over six minutes, early in the third period, the Panthers bagged three to move out in front, Tim Doherty bagging a quick-fire brace to move the score to 4-1, his second of the night being his eleventh of the season.

Fossier then floated in a beauty off the pipes with a right-handed effort as the game ticked towards the fifty-minute mark, before the Blaze snatched a consolation score through Zach Heintz with less than ten remaining.

The Panthers added a late sixth through Reid Stefanson with a backhand breakaway score as the game ticked into the final four minutes, the Panthers Nation proceeding to applaud and roar the hosts home on the back of an impressive, 6-2 win.

The following night, at the SkyDome, the Panthers bagged another six, although perhaps disappointed to let four in at the other end.

A three-goal first period from the visiting side put them on their way, Didrik Henbrant netting his twentieth of the season, with the opener, before quick-fire scores from Otto Nieminen and Mitch Fossier made it 3-0 at the end of the opening twenty.

The second period here was the polar opposite of that at the Motorpoint the night before, the Blaze bagging three scores of their own in a devastating, powerplay spell – Zach Vinelli, Zach Heintz, and Brandon Alderson, pulling the hosts level just after the half hour mark.

A goalmouth scramble however led to the Panthers regaining the lead, Reid Stefanson getting the last touch for a 4-3 lead going into the third period; that would see the Panthers stretch their lead to 6-3 thanks to scores from Matt Robson, and Nieminen with his second of the night.

The deficit was reduced to two on another powerplay, the hosts threatening to push the score the distance, Terrance Amorosa firing home from range, the Panthers holding on in a ten-goal thriller.

The Panthers are back at home on Wednesday night, they welcoming sixth place Guildford Flames (19 February) to the Motorpoint Arena, before the current, second place side, Sheffield Steelers (22 February) away, and second bottom Manchester Storm (23 February) at home, this coming weekend.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @PanthersIHC the Panthers players celebrate beating the Blaze.