Steelers v Panthers

Match Report

Nottingham Panthers secured a superb 4-2 victory on the road at Sheffield Steelers in part one of the Christmas double-header.

Part two takes place on Saturday night as the two sides meet at a sold-out Motorpoint Arena (7pm face-off).

Matt Alfaro was the only absentee as he continues his recovery from injury, but Panthers were able to ice a full roster with 11 forwards and seven defencemen.

Ryan Bednard returned between the pipes after missing Sunday's game in Cardiff, while Luca Sheldon was back-up netminder.

Three-goal first period for the Panthers
Panthers were 2-0 ahead inside five minutes as Jordan Kelsall's clever backhand shot was deflected into his own net by Matt Greenfield (2:03) and then Logan Neilson fed Ollie Betteridge on a two-on-one break (4:39).

Maxim Golod bundled the puck over the line from close-range to get Sheffield on the board (7:14), before Bednard made a superb close-range save to deny Marc-Olivier Vallerand.

Didrik Henbrant set-up Zsombor Garát who went top-shelf acrosss Greenfield to score his first Panthers goal to ensure his side led 3-1 at the first intermission (17:10).

Herr on target as Panthers remain ahead
Mitch Fossier extended his point-streak to 10 matches when he fed Sam Herr who redirected the puck into the net (24:49).

Patrik Watling's pass was converted by Marc-Olivier Vallerand at the backdoor (32:57) to reduce the arrears to two.

As the period drew to a close, Bednard made a great save to stop Robert Dowd's shot from the right-circle.

Panthers secure superb road victory
Bednard made a sprawling save and Matt Spencer stopped a goalbound shot on the line with his chest early in the third session.

Kevin Tansey and Maxim Golod were stopped in quick succession by great saves from Bednard, before Panthers lost Quinn Wichers to injury.

Steelers lifted Greenfield for the extra outskater for the final two minutes, but Panthers held firm to secure a second successive victory in Sheffield