Panthers v Blaze

Match Report

Nottingham Panthers secured a place in the Challenge Cup Elimination Game with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Coventry Blaze after penalty-shots.

A goal down with 41 seconds to go, Ollie Betteridge scored an equaliser to send the game to overtime.

Matt Marcinew and Mitch Fossier netted in the shootout, while Kevin Carr turned away four of Coventry's five attempts.

Blaze lead after early first-period goal
Connor Russell fired through a crowd from right-point to give the visitors an early lead (02:09).

Panthers killed-off two successive penalties - including over a minute of five-on three - as Carr made a huge close-range save on Alessio Luciani.

Mat Robson superbly kept out Marcinew's shot from right-point and the Blaze netminder denied the Panthers forward from the slot moments later.

Doherty on target for Panthers before Blaze hit back
Panthers started the second period strongly as Didrik Henbrant shot just wide from the slot and Finlay Ulrick was denied from close-range.

Six seconds into a powerplay Panthers equalised as Tim Doherty tipped-in David Noël's bullet of a shot from left-point (24:26).

Doherty was stopped by Robson on a breakaway, but Blaze went ahead on a powerplay late in the session as a looping puck fell into the path of Matt Gleason who forced it over the line (36:59).

Betteridge scores dramatic equaliser
​Carr was caught out of position but recovered to dive full-length to stop Mack Stewart's effort early in the third period.

Panthers lifted Carr for the extra skater for the closing stages and Betteridge scored a late equaliser to send the Motorpoint Arena crowd wild (59:19).

Huge win in the shootout
​Carr made another huge save to deny Colton Saucerman from close-range halfway through overtime.

Goals from Marcinew and Fossier in the shootout - and four saves by Carr - secured the extra point needed to secure a place in the knockout stages.