Sat 17 Dec 2022 - 9:21PM
ELITE LEAGUE: FLYERS 1-4 PANTHERS
The Nottingham Panthers beat Fife Flyers 4-1 in Kirkcaldy in the Viaplay Elite League on Saturday night.
Panthers were without injured defencemen Duggie Lagrone and Craig Moore, while Jack Hopkins and Archie Hazeldine are away with Great Britain at the Men's Under-20 World Championship Division II Group A in Lithuania where they won the silver medal.
Alex Dubeau got his third straight start in goal with Nottingham Lions netminder Matty Bloor travelling as back-up.
Welychka and Hammond put Panthers ahead
Tanner Sorenson and Mike Hammond went close in the early stages but both shot wide, before Panthers went ahead with a well-worked goal.
A great feed from Adam Brady set-up Brett Welychka who turned the puck past Shane Owen from just in front of the crease (7:08).
The hosts had chances for Mikael Johansson and Zack Phillips, but Nottingham made 2-0 on the powerplay thanks to Hammond's pinpoint shot through traffic (18:16).
Brady extends Nottingham lead
Jeremy Welsh danced through the Fife defence but was denied by Owen as the Panthers pushed for a third and it arrived moments later.
David Levin's shot was saved but the puck fell to Brady who slammed home the rebound (28:03).
Levin scores Nottingham's fourth
Brady's shot from the top of the right circle was saved by Owen while at the other end, Mikael Johansson hit the crossbar.
Dubeau made an outstanding save from former Panther Chris Lawrence from close range as Fife pushed to to find a way back into the game.
Levin created room for himself in the offensive zone before firing across Owen in off the left-hand post for Nottingham's fourth (54:04).
Dubeau's shutout was broken in heartbreaking fashion with only nine seconds remaining as Brayden Sherbinin's shot deflected past him on the powerplay (59:51).
After the game, Head Coach Corey Neilson spoke with Panthers Radio in association with Xynomix.
Click here to listen to his interview.
Tomorrow we meet again in Nottingham
It will be part two of the back-to-back double-header tomorrow as the two sides meet again in Nottingham.
Face-off is 6pm but doors will open at 2pm with fans able to watch the World Cup final - which kicks off at 3pm - on the huge jumbotron at centre-ice.