Sat 1 Oct 2022 - 9:26PM

CHALLENGE CUP: STEELERS 2-1 PANTHERS

The Nottingham Panthers were beaten 2-1 on-the-road at Sheffield Steelers in the Premier Sports Challenge Cup on Saturday night.

Mike Hammond and Tanner Sorenson both missed out because of injury, so Jack Hopkins returned to the line-up.

Alex Dubeau started between the pipes with Jack Berry returning to the gameday roster as back-up.

Welsh on target and Dubeau saves penalty shot
Stephen Anderson had a chance within the first minute before Panthers went ahead as Jeremy Welsh popped home a rebound on the doorstep at 7:24 (powerplay).

Dubeau superbly saved Martin Latal's penalty shot after the Steelers forward was hooked back by Craig Moore (12:04).

McNally brings Sheffield level at second intermission
The second period was littered with penalties for both sides and Panthers had to kill-off nearly a minute of five-on-three twice.

Dubeau made a string of quality saves but could do nothing about Brandon McNally's deflected shot after a swift Steelers two-on-one break (37:50).

Dowd wins it for the Steelers
Dubeau made two big saves on an early third-period Steelers powerplay, before Robert Dowd scored his first goal of the season to put Sheffield ahead.

The GB international swept out from behind the net and his low shot evaded Dubeau (50:18).

Both sides hit the pipes in the closing stages and despite Panthers lifting Dubeau for the extra skater, Steelers held on for the two points.

Click here to listen to the thoughts of Panthers Head Coach Gary Graham on Panthers Radio, in association with Xynomix.

Panthers return to action on Friday with Elite League action on-the-road in Cardiff, before returning home to host Fife Flyers on Saturday.

Click here to buy tickets for Panthers against Fife on Saturday (7pm).