Sun 16 Oct 2022 - 7:56PM

CHALLENGE CUP: STORM 2-3 PANTHERS

The Nottingham Panthers beat Manchester Storm 3-2 in Altrincham after a penalty shootout to secure victory in the Premier Sports Challenge Cup.

Adam Brady, David Levin and Craig Puffer scored in the shootout, while netminder Jack Berry saved three of Manchester's five attempts as Panthers picked up the vital extra point.

Mike Caruso (injury reserve), as well as Andrew Johnston and Duggie Lagrone (both day-to-day), missed the game through injury and Alex Dubeau served the second of his five-match suspension.

Storm have goal disallowed in scoreless first period
The game's first clear-cut chance fell to Stephen Johnson, who jumped on a mistake in the Panthers defence before being denied by a fine save by Berry.

Anthony DeLuca had a goal disallowed for the hosts for netminder interference and at the other end, Mike Hammond was stopped twice by Hayden Lavigne - the second chance involving a superb one-two move with Jeremy Welsh.

End-to-end second period but no goals
JC Brassard had two efforts from point in the opening stages of the second period, before Lavigne closed the door on a Hammond penalty shot.

Tanner Sorenson was given a 5+Game penalty for Checking to the Head and the Panthers penalty kill were exceptional in killing off the full five-minute penalty, with Berry making a number of top-class saves.

Summers and Anderson on target as game goes to overtime
The hosts took the lead early in the third period through Kevin Ekman-Larsson's shot through traffic (41:46).

Panthers were level less than two minutes later as David Levin was denied from close range, but had the presence of mind to feed Kelly Summers who had jumped into the play to fire past Lavigne (43:36).

Brett Welychka broke down the left-hand side and his centering feed was met by Stephen Anderson to score first goal of the season to put Panthers ahead (52:44), but Storm hit back within two minutes with DeLuca firing across Berry from the right circle (54:38).

Panthers take extra point after shootout
Overtime was end-to-end with Hammond coming close to winning it in the extra period, while Berry made two big stops to deny the Storm.

Berry came up big in the shootout - while Brady, Levin and Puffer all found the target - as Panthers picked up the extra point.

Panthers back in action on Wednesday
​The Panthers are next in action on Wednesday with a trip to Scotland to play Glasgow Clan in the Elite League (7:30pm face-off).

The next home game is on Saturday with Sheffield Steelers visiting the Motorpoint Arena in the Challenge Cup (7pm face-off).

Click here to purchase tickets for Panthers against Steelers.