Thu 23 Oct 2025 - 06:00AM
CUP ELIMINATION GAME OPPONENTS TO BE CONFIRMED
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Nottingham Panthers will play in the 2025-26 Challenge Cup Elimination Game for a place in the semi-finals following Wednesday night's dramatic 3-2 victory over Coventry Blaze after a penalty shootout at the Motorpoint Arena.
Down 2-1 in the closing stages, Head Coach Danny Stewart lifted netminder Kevin Carr for the extra skater and the six-on-five ploy worked as Ollie Betteridge scored the equaliser with only 41 seconds reamaining.
Carr came up big to stop Colton Saucerman in overtime from point-blank range and the Panthers netminder turned away four of Coventry's five penalty-shot attempts.
At the other end, Matt Marcinew and Mitch Fossier scored in the shootout to secure victory on a dramatic night.
Panthers have officially secured third spot in Group A and a place in the Elimination Game despite fourth-placed Cardiff Devils still having a game to play.
A regulation-time win for Cardiff in their final game would see them move on to 12 points but with the first five tie-breaking criteria the same, Panthers would go through on away points won.
- i. Total number of points
- ii. Total number of games won in regulation-time
- iii. Total number of all games won (regulation, overtime and penalties)
- iv. The results of games played between the relevant teams by applying points won, games won in regulation-time, all games won (regulation-time/overtime/penalties) in that order of priority.
- v. Fewest regulation losses
- vi. Using away games: – points won, games won in regulation-time, all games won (regulation-time/overtime/penalties) in that order of priority
Panthers have eight points from a possible 10 on the road in the Challenge Cup with wins over Manchester (3-1), Coventry (3-0), Cardiff (5-0) and Sheffield (4-2).
Devils only have away wins over Panthers (6-3) and Storm (2-1). With just a trip to Guildford on 2nd November remaining, the maximum Cardiff can amass from ther road games is six points.
The full list of tie-breaking criteria can be found on the Elite League website.
Panthers will face the team which finishes second in Group B where 12 games are played by each side in the group stages.
Belfast Giants currently sit second but depending on the remaining results, Panthers could also face either current leaders Dundee Stars or third-placed Glasgow Clan.
Next at home: Belfast and Coventry double-header
Following Saturday's trip to Cardiff Devils, Panthers return to the Motorpoint Arena the following weekend for a home double-header.
Belfast Giants are the visitors on Friday 31st October (19:00) with Coventry Blaze in town on Saturday 1st November (19:00).
Special Bundle Tickets covering both matches are available which offer a discount if purchased at the same time. Click here to buy Bundle Tickets.
It's a huge weekend of hockey with Elite League points on the line on successive nights. Come join the passionate #PanthersNation.