Panthers v Flyers

Match Report

Nottingham Panthers beat Fife Flyers 5-1 with a dominant performance in the Elite League in-front of a crowd of over 5,500 at the Motorpoint Arena.

Zsombor Garát made his home debut but Panthers were without fellow defencemen Cooper Zech and Jaakko Niskala (both lower body).

Ryan Bednard started between the pipes with Rok Stojanovic as back-up.

Betteridge and Kontos give Panthers first-period lead
Panthers had all the pressure in the first period with the best chances falling to Davis Bunz and Reid Stefanson in the opening 10 minutes.

Ollie Betteridge got the final touch to Stefanson's shot through traffic to give Nottingham the lead (11:38).

Otto Nieminen fed Kristoff Kontos who broke into the offensive zone and fired through Shane Owen's five-hole as Panthers opened up a two-goal first-period lead (17:16).

Panthers score three times in second period
The pressure continued in the second period and Didrik Henbrant saw his shot saved when he broke clear of the defence, but he picked-up the rebound behind the net and fed Sam Herr who scored from a tight angle (29:41).

Bednard made a great save to deny Madi Dikhanbek at one end and moments later, Panthers broke down the ice with Kontos feeding Hugo Roy who rounded Owen in style (36:43).

It was 5-0 only 56 seconds later as Quinn Wichers and Betteridge combined for Tim Doherty to fire a beauty of a one-timer across Owen (37:39).

Panthers ease to dominant victory
Fife got on the board early in the third period through Lucas Chiodo's neat finish on the breakaway (40:54).

Betteridge and Henbrant hit the left-hand post within 30 seconds of each other as Panthers continued to dominate.

Owen made a number of big saves including one late-on to deny Kontos as Panthers eased to victory in the first home league game of the season.