Sun 23 Feb 2025 - 6:25PM
23RD FEBRUARY 2025: PANTHERS 3-1 STORM
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A crowd of over 6,000 saw Nottingham Panthers beat Manchester Storm 3-1 at the Motorpoint Arena in the Elite League on Sunday afternoon.
Ryan Bednard and Reid Stefanson both missed the game because of injury. Davis Bunz moved to the wing on the third line as Panthers played with 12 forwards and six defencemen.
Netminder Jason Grande, who made 59 saves last night in Sheffield, started between the pipes with Luca Sheldon as back-up.
After chances for Otto Nieminen and Hugo Roy, Cooper Zech put Panthers ahead when he cut across the left-circle to beat David Tendeck (03:50).
Panthers dominated much of the first period as Matt Alfaro, Didrik Henbrant and Tim Doherty all went close.
The visitors had a spell of pressure in the second period and Grande made good saves to deny Tyler Hinam and Joe Morrow while at the other ends, Bunz hit the pipes for the Panthers.
Doherty forced the turnover to send Mitch Fossier clear and he scored on his backhand to make it 2-0 early in the third session (43:43).
Storm scored short-handed through a neat finish from the slot by Dallas Ehrhardt (48:15), before Grande had to be at his best to turn away shots from Morrow and Cam Critchlow.
Manchester had a late powerplay and went six-on-four as they lifted the netminder for the extra skater and Sam Herr scored Panthers' victory with a short-handed goal from his own zone into an empty net (59:47).
Cup semi-final on Wednesday
Panthers are straight back into action on Wednesday with the second leg of the Challenge Cup semi-final against Belfast Giants at the Motorpoint Arena (7:30pm face-off).
Panthers trail 3-0 from the first leg in Northern Ireland and there's a bit of work to do to turn this one around, but the dressing room has the belief to secure a dramatic comeback.
We need your support to fill the Motorpoint Arena. We BELIEVE and we know you BELIEVE that we can reach the Challenge Cup final.
Tickets start from as little as £9. Join the #PanthersNation on what will be another big night at the Motorpoint Arena.