Panthers v Flames
The Nottingham Panthers
6 - 1
Guildford Flames
Match Report
The Nottingham Panthers secured a vital two points in the push for the playoffs with a 6-1 victory over Guildford Flames at a packed Motorpoint Arena.
Nearly 7,000 people roared the Panthers to victory as Otto Nieminen and Anthony Luciani both scored twice on a magical night on Lower Parliament Street.
Panthers welcomed back Tyler Welsh to the line-up but Ollie Betteridge and Westin Michaud missed out because of injury.
Logan Neilson also had to withdraw ahead of face-off through injury. Rok Stojanovic started between the pipes with Luca Sheldon as back-up.
Luciani and Henbrant put Panthers ahead at first intermission
Panthers took an early lead when a superb play and feed across the face of the goal by Myles McGurty set-up Luciani to bury the puck at the backdoor (3:33).
Stephen Anderson hit the post before Nottingham broke two-on-one which saw Didrik Henbrant fake the pass and bury the puck top-shelf (12:29).
A late hit on the boards saw Félix Paré step-in and drop the gloves for a great fight with Kyle Locke.
Luciani scores a second as Panthers extend lead
Paré fed Luciani in the slot to bury his second of the night as Panthers scored early in the second period (21:39).
The Flames had the better of the chances in the session with Nicolas Ouellet hitting the pipes, while Stojanovic made good saves to deny Lewis Hook and Bradley Lalonde.
Nieminen nets twice and Roy also on target
Just like the first and second periods, Panthers scored early in the third as Jake Ryczek sent Otto Nieminen on a breakaway and he went top-shelf (43:28).
Hugo Roy pounced to a rebound from close-range for Nottingham's fifth of the night (49:56), before Henbrant forced a turnover to send Nieminen clear to bury his second (57:51) to put the seal on a memorable night.