Panthers v Devils

Match Report

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A short-benched Nottingham Panthers were beaten 4-2 by Cardiff Devils in Group A of the Challenge Cup.

Coupled with Guildford's 5-3 win on the road at Coventry Blaze it means Panthers cannot now qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

Panthers were without the suspended Tim Doherty while Matt Alfaro missed the game because of injury. Mat Robson started between the pipes with Kai Edmonds as back-up.

Devils lead at first intermission
Spencer Naas went close for the Panthers in the opening stages and Miikka Pitkänen fed Brandon Frattaroli who saw his shot saved by Christian Stoever.

At the other end, Robson made a huge save to deny Joey Martin and a close-range shot by Kristoff Kontos hit the post.

Devils took the lead when Nick Welsh reacted first to a loose puck to score on his backhand (08:48) and soon after, Max Grondin had the better of a fight with Riley Brandt behind the Cardiff net.

Four goals in dramatic second session
Evan Mosey drove the backdoor to double Cardiff's advantage (31:18) before Panthers hit back with two powerplay goals in 46 seconds.

Ben Corbeil and Zach O'Brien combined to feed Aiden Hansen-Bukata to score from right-point on the five-on-three powerplay (33:45) and Naas buried a rebound to equalise on the five-on-four (34:31).

Brandt lost his footing behind the net and Joe Hazeldine was assessed a very harsh holding penalty - and on the resulting powerplay Cardiff went back in-front as Josh MacDonald fed Kontos to score from close-range (36:32).

Cardiff secure vital win
Jordan Kelsall went close for Panthers in an end-to-end third period, with Robson denying Mosey as Devils pushed for a fourth.

Panthers pushed hard for an equaliser and lifted Robson for the extra skater with just over two minutes remaining, but Devils wrapped the game up through an empty-net goal by Ryan Barrow (59:53).