Flames v Panthers

Match Report

Nottingham Panthers picked up a point on the road but were beaten 5-4 by Guildford Flames after overtime in a nine-goal thriller at The Spectrum.

Panthers were without Cooper Zech, Matt Alfaro and Tim Doherty because of injury, while Jaakko Niskala missed out through illness.

Netminder Luca Sheldon was also out of the line-up with injury so Zack Brown was back-up to Ryan Bednard.

The Flames retired the number 22 jersey of their Head Coach and former player Paul Dixon in a pre-game ceremony.

Kontos scores for Panthers but Flames lead
After chances inside the first minute for Sam Herr and Kristoff Kontos, Flames had most of the early pressure and went ahead when Lewis Hook set-up Brett Ferguson (6:39).

Kontos equalised when he won the battle on the wall and cut inside from the left to fire past Eamon McAdam (10:53).

Bednard made great saves to twice deny Ryan Tait, but Guildford went to the first intermission with the advantage thanks to a one-timer from the right-circle by Sam Jones (16:38).

Fossier equalises with outstanding penalty-shot
Mitch Fossier went close in the opening stages of the second session, while Josh Tetlow and Kontos saw their shots saved.

After Herr was impeded on a breakway, Fossier scored an outstanding goal on the resutling penalty-shot as he waited for McAdam to go down and lifted it over him for the equaliser (30:39).

Betteridge and Herr on target as game goes to overtime
Daniel Tedesco put the Flames ahead on the powerplay early in the third period (40:26), before Roy went close for the Panthers at the other end.

Panthers scored a third equaliser when Otto Nieminen's clever backhand pass set-up Ollie Betteridge who made a great move on McAdam for his third goal of the season (48:58).

Herr took advantage of a Flames mistake and broke clear short-handed and went forehand-backhand through the five-hole to put Panthers ahead for the first time (53:22).

But Flames hit back within three minutes through Jack Jacome's neat finish from the slot (55:52) and Bednard made a world-class save to deny Guildford on a three-on-two break with just one second remaining.

Tedesco scores overtime winner for Guildford
Flames dominated overtime and Bednard made great saves to stop Jacome, Travis Brown and Daniel Catenacci.

Tedesco secured his side the extra point with a pinpoint finish from the slot for his second goal of the game (62:40).