Qualification for the play-offs, locked in.

New netminders record, achieved.

Four-point weekend, completed.

It was a great weekend for the Panthers Nation following the double demolition of Scottish clubs, Dundee Stars, and Fife Flyers, by Danny Stewart’s high-flying Nottingham Panthers.

Needing to out aside the disappointment of their recent exit from the Challenge Cup, at the semi-final stage, the Panthers built on that second leg, 2-0 win over Belfast Giants, to put Dundee and Fife to the sword, and in doing so, locked in their play-off berth.

The weekend began, on Saturday night in Dundee, against the third bottom Stars, Panthers netminder, Jason Grande, posting a 27-shot shut-out as he closed in on the club record; in front of him it would be Quinn Wichers who opened the scoring, inside the opening ten minutes of the contest, whilst both sides hit the pipes in the early stages of the second period before Mitch Fossier set up Tim Doherty for the Panthers’ second and, minutes later, Matt Alfaro collected a pass from Hugo Roy before letting rip.

Three to the good inside half-an-hour and the Panthers found themselves en-route to their first two points of the weekend; the fourth goal of the contest arrived just after the half-hour mark, Kristoff Kontos releasing from behind the Stars net and Didrik Henbrant firing home.

Although the final period was devoid of any further goals, there was still plenty of action, the Stars hitting Grande’s pipes, twice, whilst at the other end there was narrow misses for both Fossier, and Zsombor Garat.

The following night, at home to Fife Flyers, it was to be a captain’s performance from Sam Herr that locked in the Panthers’ play-off spot, the 4-1 victory closing the gap on leaders Belfast to five points (rivals Sheffield Steelers sandwiched between).

Kristoff Kontos and Matt Spencer combined in the opening five minutes for Jaako Niskala to open the scoring, before Herr took over, putting his stamp on the contest with first an assist in the Panthers second goal of the evening, some beautiful skating seeing him release Spencer for the score just after the half hour mark.

The Flyers halved the deficit as the second period ticked towards its end, Kieran Craig firing home, Herr going on to complete his star showing with a late brace to wrap up the win.

First, he took advantage of a five-on-three powerplay when being fed by Doherty, before wrapping the game, and progression to the play-offs up, with an empty-net score, both coming in the final five minutes of the contest.

The victory over Fife Flyers was also a significant landmark for Panthers netminder, Jason Grande, a game tally of turning off 28/29, he would set a new, franchise record (stat courtesy of Chris Gadsby, BBC Radio Nottingham), for having not been beaten between the pipes in 170mins 57secs.

Now though, focus immediately turns to Wednesday (5 March) nights’ game, the Panthers hosting Glasgow Clan, before a second home game on Saturday (8 March) as they welcome rivals Sheffield Steelers to the Motorpoint Arena.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @PanthersIHC action as Nottingham beat Fife on Sunday night to reach the Playoffs.