Panthers v Devils
Nottingham Panthers
3 - 2
Cardiff Devils
Match Report
Nottingham Panthers beat Cardiff Devils 3-2 in a thrilling Challenge Cup game in-front of a massive Saturday night crowd of over 6,000 at the Motorpoint Arena.
Panthers had a full roster of 20 players with defenceman Cooper Zech the only absentee (lower body).
Ryan Bednard started between the pipes with Nottingham-born Luca Sheldon as back-up.
Panthers scored two goals in 25 seconds to take a two-goal lead to the first intermission.
Tim Doherty fired a beauty top-shelf from the left-circle on the powerplay (13:24), before Sam Herr scored from close-range (13:49)
Herr drove the net on the powerplay to bundle home his second of the night (26:42) as Panthers opened-up a 3-0 lead.
Cardiff got on the board when Bednard saved Zach O'Brien's shot but former Panther Brett Perlini scored on the rebound (34:20).
Henbrant used his strength and speed to go close to making it four and at the other end, Bednard made a huge point-blank save to deny Cole Sanford.
Matt Alfaro hit the pipes in the third period as Panthers kept pushing to put the game to bed, but Devils made it a one-game when Sanford found himself all alone in the slot and fired past Bednard (52:54).
Devils lifted Bowns for the extra skater but Panthers saw out the game for a massive two points in the cup.