Steelers v Panthers

Match Report

A short-benched Nottingham Panthers produced an heroic performance to secure a 4-2 victory at Sheffield Steelers in the Elite League.

Panthers were without Matt Alfaro, Tim Doherty, Cooper Zech and Luca Sheldon because of injury.

Ryan Bednard started between the pipes with Nottingham-born Zack Brown as back-up.

Herr on target in 1-1 first period
After an early chance for Hugo Roy, an already-depleted Panthers lost Mitch Fossier inside four minutes and were down to nine forwards.

Steelers went ahead on the powerplay through Maxim Golod's pinpoint shot from the left-circle (7:34).

But Panthers hit back within three minutes as Logan Neilson and Reid Stefanson set-up Sam Herr who glided through the offensive zone and shot top-shelf across Steelers netminder Jere Huhtamaa (9:56).

Fossier returned to the ice as the period drew to a close and in the final 30 seconds Bednard made a great save to deny Golod.

Kontos and Roy make it 3-1 to Panthers
Panthers took the lead when Huhtamaa saved Herr's shot but Kristoff Kontos was on hand to bury the rebound (25:48).

Moments later, Fossier was denied on a breakaway before Roy went forehand-backhand top-shelf after great work by Fossier and Kontos to put Panthers 3-1 ahead (30:30).

Stefanson just lost control of the puck at the last moment on a breakaway short-handed and at the other end, Matt Spencer made an outstanding goal-line clearance.

Herr scores a second as Panthers secure massive road win
Bednard made a great pad save to deny Marc-Olivier Vallerand early in the third period.

Fossier fed Herr who drove the net at the backdoor to bury his second of the night as Panthers opened-up a three-goal lead (51:21).

Daniel Leavens tipped-in Patrick Watling's shot to reduce the arrears to two with just under two-and-a-half minutes remaining (57:34).

Panthers held firm and counted the clock down to secure a superb two points on the road.