Panthers v Steelers

Match Report

Ross Armour scored a hat-trick as Nottingham Panthers came from behind to beat Sheffield Steelers 4-3 after a dramatic shootout.

Armour scored his third with only 84 seconds remaining on a six-on-five play with Kevin Carr lifted for the extra outskater.

Panthers were at full-strength with Nolan Volcan the healthy scratch. Carr started between the pipes with Luca Sheldon as back-up.

No goals in entertaining first period
Panthers created some superb chances in the opening session as they ripped the Steelers defence apart, with Matt Alfaro going close twice and Mitch Fossier's shot was stopped by Matt Greenfield.

Brendan Harris was denied by Greenfield on a short-handed two-on-one break with Chase Pearson while at the other end, Carr made great saves to turn away efforts by Mikko Juusola and Mitchell Balmas.

Armour scores twice in two minutes to equalise
The visitors took the lead 82 seconds after the restart through Stephen Harper's top-shelf finish from close-range (21:21), before Juusola set-up Balmas in the slot (26:02).

Panthers struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the second but two goals in just over two minutes by Armour ensured the game was tied at two at the break.

He reacted first to a rebound after Josh Tetlow's shot was saved (37:23) and then forced the puck over the line at the backdoor after good work by Bryan Lemos and Didrik Henbrant (39:47)

Armour completes hat-trick with late equaliser
Sheffield scored 87 seconds into the third period as Balmas netted his second of the night as he pulled Carr out of position to score on his backhand (41:27).

Pearson broke through the Steelers defence and went close as Panthers pushed for a way back into the game.

Panthers equalised on a six-on-five play with Carr lifted for the extra outskater when Jarod Hilderman shot wide and Armour buried the rebound to score his third goal of the night (58:36).

Panthers secure extra point in dramatic shootout
​Overtime was end-to-end but scoreless, so the big rivals had to be separated by a shootout.

Cooper Zech, Fossier and Harris beat Greenfield with Carr turning away three of Sheffield's five attempts.