GMB PANTHERS CROWNED CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPIONS
The GMB Nottingham Panthers lifted the Challenge Cup with an 8-7 aggregate win over the Cardiff Devils on Tuesday night.
The Cardiff Devils made the Panthers work from start to finish for the aggregate win and actually won the second leg with a 4-5 scoreline but the two goal lead from the first leg in Wales (2-4) saw Nottingham home to spark wild celebrations at the TrentFM Arena in front of over five thousand ecstatic fans.
Devils jumped to a two goal lead before the superb Corey Neilson who led by example throughout fired home on a five-on-three powerplay to give Nottingham the lead on aggregate after twenty minutes. Devils scored again but Marty Gascon reduced the deficit on the night with a sweeping goal on a delayed call while face-down on the ice and Marc Levers did something similar a couple of minutes later to tie the game on the night at 28.09. Devils took their time-out but Panthers were next to score with David Clarke battling to the puck to score on a back-hand and Nottingham led on the night and stretched their aggregate lead to three goals.
But Devils scored again before the second break and then set up a nail-biting finale with another goal with just over four minutes to go. Nottingham held out though to take the cup and spark the celebrations of the year!
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