Panthers v Steelers

Match Report

The Nottingham Panthers put in a battling performance at the Motorpoint Arena but we beaten 3-2 by Sheffield Steelers on Saturday night.

Panthers were without Ollie Betteridge, Myles McGurty, Josh Tetlow and Tyler Welsh. Netminder Rok Stojanovic got the start between the pipes with Mike Robinson as back-up.

Steelers lead at first intermission
Stephen Anderson forced a turnover on a penalty-kill and broke clear but was denied by Matt Greenfield and at the other end, Stojanovic made a superb double save on Daniel Ciampini and Robert Dowd.

Zach Vinnell bundled the puck over the line after a goalmouth scramble to put the visitors ahead (8:13), while Nottingham's best chance of the period saw Otto Nieminen shoot inches wide.

Roy on target short-handed but Steelers still lead
​Mitchell Balmas scored Sheffield's second with a bullet of a shot from the right-circle which flew past Stojanovic off the pipes (​22:05).

Hugo Roy reacted first to a rebound to score from close-range short-handed (28:09) and the forward shot just wide on the powerplay, while Didrik Henbrant also went close.

Roy scores his second but Steelers secure two points
Roy got his second of the night when he drove the slot to get the final touch to Otto Nieminen's pass towards the net (44:29), but Balmas put Sheffield back ahead as he converted a breakaway (46:28).

Westin Michaud hit the side-netting on a third-period powerplay as Panthers pushed hard for an equaliser.

Stojanovic was lifted for the extra out-skater but Nottingham were unable to beat Greenfield for a third time.