Storm v Panthers

Match Report

Nottingham Panthers secured a solid 4-1 victory on the road in Altrincham against Manchester Storm in the Elite League.

Otto Nieminen and Reid Stefanson missed the game through injury as did Jaakko Niskala, so Davis Bunz returned to the defence after a stint as a forward.

Jason Grande started between the pipes with Jere Huhtamaa as back-up.

Scoreless first period in Altrincham
There were no goals in the first period with Panthers' best chances coming on the powerplay for Sam Herr, Matt Alfaro and Tim Doherty.

At the other end, Grande looked solid and turned away Jake Durflinger's shot with his pad and also denied Ryan Hughes and Alexis D'Aoust.

Doherty on target in second session
Good work behind the net from Cooper Zech set-up Alfaro and his shot was turned in by Doherty at the backdoor to put Panthers ahead (23:45).

Storm hit back thanks to a neat finish across Grande's shoulder by Gianluca Estevez from the left-wing (28:23).

The game was feisty in the second period with a number of flashpoints, including Manchester's Joe Morrow being handed a game miscondcut for speaing Mitch Fossier.

Fossier scores twice as Panthers secure two points
Panthers went back ahead when Storm netminder David Tendeck left his crease to narrow the angle on Doherty, but his clearance was straight to Alfaro who swept the puck home (42:51).

Zech sent Fossier on a breakaway and he went forehand-backhand to make it 3-1 as Panthers scored twice just under four minutes (46:46).

A clever backhand pass by Doherty found Fossier in the slot who scored his second of the night to complete the victory (54:33).