Panthers v Flyers

Match Report

Nottingham Panthers remain three points clear at the top of the table following a 7-3 victory over Fife Flyers at the Motorpoint Arena.

Ross Armour scored twice to take his Elite League tally for the season to 15 goals. Jason Grande started between the pipes with Luca Sheldon as back-up.

Volcan and Garát on target in first period
After early chances for Matt Marcinew, Cooper Zech and Chase Pearson, Panthers went ahead when Didrik Henbrant wrapped around the net and the puck deflected to Nolan Volcan who scored from close-range (05:36).

At the other end, Grande made good saves to deny Ryan Nicholson and David Booth but could nothing about Johan Porsberger's top-shelf finish from the left-circle on the powerplay (13:05).

Panthers regained the lead when a goalmouth scramble saw the puck fall to Tim Doherty behind the net and his perfect feed found Zsombor Garát who jumped into the play and beat Shane Owen (18:20).

Panthers lead by two at second intermission
Giordano Finoro fired through traffic as the visitors drew level again (22:28) before Panthers scored twice in just over three minutes to take a 4-2 lead to the second intermission.

Armour drove the backdoor to meet a feed by Doherty on the powerplay (31:30) and Jordan Kelsall went top-shelf in the slot after a pass from Brendan Harris (34:44).

Fife continued to create chances throughout the period and Grande came up big to stop Booth on a breakaway.

Armour scores second as Panthers secure big win
Armour swept the puck home from the slot for his second goal of the game (45:56) and Jakob Stridsberg went top-shelf on the powerplay for his first goal as a Panther (47:30).

Grande produced a good glove save to stop Porsberger on a third-period Fife powerplay.

Marcinew tipped-in a shot from the high slot by Zech (55:18) before Fife scored in the final minute when Ethan Somoza put away his own rebound (59:17).