BOX OFFICE 0115 853 3000

Sat 11 Apr 2026 - 9:30PM

LATE MARCINEW GOAL SETS-UP BIG NIGHT IN NOTTINGHAM

LATE MARCINEW GOAL SETS-UP BIG NIGHT IN NOTTINGHAM Top Image

A late goal by Matt Marcinew means Nottingham Panthers face only a one-goal deficit going into tomorrow's second leg of the playoff quarter-final with Manchester Storm.

Storm won the first leg 2-1 and had raced into a two-goal lead in the first period, before Marcinew's close-range finish set-up a huge game in Nottingham on Sunday.

Panthers were without injured forwards Matt Alfaro and Brendan Harris while Jarod Hilderman was ruled out after warm-up. Kevin Carr started between the pipes with Jason Grande as back-up.

Manchester lead at first intermission
Carr made good saves to deny Stephen Johnson and Zach Sullivan and at the other end, Marcinew, David Noël and Tim Doherty all had good chances for the Panthers.

Manchester scored twice in three-and-a-half minutes to take a two-goal advantage to the first intermission.

Kyle Locke's shot from right-point took a deflection to beat Carr (10:14) and Locke then turned provider to set-up Tyler Hinam at the backdoor (13:43).

No goals in tight second period
Carr denied Gary Haden on the breakaway as Storm look the most likely side to score in the second period.

Panthers' best chances came at the midway point of the session with Noël and Didrik Henbrant going close in quick succession.

Late Marcinew goal boosts Panthers
Noël and Cooper Zech shot just wide as Panthers had pressure early in the third period and Chase Pearson was denied by Drew DeRidder.

Manchester went so close to a third when Brady Gilmour hit the bar, before Panthers hit the Storm late with a huge goal.

Pearson and Mitch Fossier combined for Marcinew at the backdoor to make it a one-goal game (57:23).

The two sides will now battle it out in Nottingham on Sunday with the winners on aggregate progressing to Playoff Finals Weekend.

Sell-out at the Motorpoint Arena
Tomorrow's game at the Motorpoint Arena - which is sponsored by FAE Service Solutions Ltd - is already sold-out, but you can follow the game on our webcast.

Join Jono Bullard and former Panthers netminder Dan Green for all the action. Click here to purchase.