Sun 18 Oct 2026 - 8:15PM
POINT FOR THE PANTHERS IN COVENTRY
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Nottingham Panthers picked up a point on the road at the Skydome but were beaten 2-1 by Coventry Blaze after in a shootout in Challenge Cup.
The points means Panthers are second in Group A with 12 points from nine matches.
Matt Alfaro missed the game through injury. Mat Robson started between the pipes with Kai Edmonds as back-up.
No goals in quiet first period
Spencer Naas and Brandon Frattaroli had chances for the Panthers on an early first-period powerplay.
For the Blaze, Ryan Richardson hit the bar on the man-advantage and Robson made two big close-range saves to deny Jaxson Ezman and Artem Buzoverya.
Ben Corbeil broke clear shorthanded but his shot came back off the pipes and Zach O'Brien hit the post on the powerplay with just five seconds remaining in the period.
Netminders on top with no goals in second session
Robson denied Griffin Ness on the doorstep and also made a great reflex stop to turn away Buzoverya's tip from the slot.
Clear-cut chances for Panthers were limited in the second period, but a superb lofted pass from Corbeil found Miikka Pitkänen who saw his shot saved by Evan Fitzpatrick.
Niskala scores for Panthers before Blaze hit bacl
Aiden Hansen-Bukata shot just wide from left-point and soon after, strong play by Frattaroli on the left boards set-up Jaakko Niskala who jumped into the play to score from the right-circle (44:38).
The Blaze hit back within three minutes as Márkó Csollák fired top-shelf from the top of the left-circle (47:32), before Robson made a huge pad save to deny William Boysen.
Blaze secure extra point in the shootout
Chase Pearson, Niskala and Pitkänen had chances in overtime for the Panthers while at the other end, Robson made two close-range saves in succession.
Pitkänen scored in the shootout but the hosts won it in sudden-death with Boysen netting the game-winning penalty-shot.
Arena well over three-quarters full for Cardiff on Sunday 25th October
Tickets are selling fast for our Challenge Cup game with Cardiff Devils on next Sunday (25th October) which face-off at 16:00.
The Motorpoint Arena is already well over three-quarters full so you're advised to secure your seats asap. The game is sponsored by Wenham Specialist Finance.