Panthers v Storm

Match Report

Nottingham Panthers secured a four-point weekend with a 4-1 victory over Manchester Storm at the Motorpoint Arena.

Mitch Fossier scored and added two assists to round-off an impressive four-point debut weekend as a Panther.

Forwards Tim Doherty and Kristoff Kontos missed the game through injury, as did defenceman Cooper Zech who continues his recovery from a lower body injury.

Ryan Bednard started between the pipes with Hunter Vorva as back-up.

Panthers lead by two after explosive first period
Moments after having a goal disallowed for goaltender interference, Panthers went ahead when Fossier fired through the five-hole on the breakaway (12:52).

Storm had Loren Ulett thrown-out for fighting when he jumped Davis Bunz and Panthers scored on the powerplay as Sam Herr buried a rebound from close-range (19:21).

At the other end, Bednard made two superb close-range pad saves in quick succession and Alex D'Aoust hit the pipes.

Panthers stretch advantage to four
Fossier continued his impressive start to life as a Panther when he buried a rebound on the powerplay (23:43) and Didrik Henbrant pounced to a loose puck to make it 4-0 only 33 seconds later (24:16).

Panthers piled on the pressure throughout the period with Logan Neilson, Reid Stefanson and Hugo Roy all going close.

Bednard continued to look strong in the Panthers goal with two standout close-range saves with Panthers on the penalty-kill.

Storm get on the board but Panthers secure the two points
Bednard was thrown-out for spearing and was replaced by Vorva who made some top-class saves on the five-minute penalty-kill.

Vorva made a great save to stop Grant Hebert but was beaten by CJ Garcia's deflected shot from the blueline (54:39).

Otto Nieminen and Logan Neilson went close for the Panthers in the closing stages as Danny Stewart's short-benched side secured an impressive two points.