Storm v Panthers

Match Report

Nottingham Panthers produced a superb road performance to get their Challenge Cup campaign off to a winning start with a 4-0 victory over Manchester Storm.

Netminder Ryan Bednard once again had a superb game between the pipes as he secured a 21-shot shutout.

Henbrant scores Panthers' first goal of season
Nottingham dominated the first period with Kristoff Kontos, Cooper Zech, Hugo Roy and Sam Herr having chances on an early powerplay, while Otto Nieminen shot just wide halfway through the session.

At the other end, Bednard made a good save to stop Connor Lee from close-range and also denied Ryan Hughes.

Panthers deservedly took the lead when Didrik Henbrant swung out from behind the net and fired through traffic from the slot (17:56).

Kontos and Alfaro on target in second period
A neat feed from Roy off the right-wing found the unmarked Kontos who beat Evan Weninger with a neat finish (24:43).

Panthers scored their third on the powerplay as Zech set-up Matt Alfaro for a brilliant one-time finish from the right-circle (31:29).

Bednard stayed solid and made a great glove save to stop Grant Hebert's shot.

Bednard secures shutout and Nieminen puts seal on victory
​Logan Neilson had a shot saved from the left-circle and Herr was denied from close-range.

The seal was put on the victory when Tim Doherty supplied the pass for Nieminen to score on the powerplay with only five seconds remaining (59:55).