Sun 13 Nov 2022 - 8:22PM
ELITE LEAGUE: FIFE 6-1 PANTHERS
The Nottingham Panthers were beaten 6-1 on-the-road in Scotland by Fife Flyers on Sunday evening in the Elite League.
Defenceman Duggie Lagrone returned to the line-up after coming off injury reserve, while Craig Puffer was a healthy scratch.
Netminder Alex Dubeau missed out through injury (week-to-week), with Jack Berry getting his second successive start in goal
Former Panther gives Fife first-period lead
Berry made two good stops from Jonas Emmerdahl and Brayden Sherbinin, before former Panther Zack Phillips tipped in Fife's opener (10:02).
Craig Moore was denied from the blueline while Brett Welychka's effort from the slot was saved as Panthers struggled to find a way past the impressive Shane Owen.
Reece Harsch's shot hit the pipes as the hosts went so close to a second goal in the opening period.
Lawrence helps Fife to commanding lead at second intermission
Another former Panther Chris Lawrence went five-hole on a breakaway to score Fife's second (21:02) while at the other end, Owen stopped David Levin twice in quick succession.
Janne Kivilahti pounced first to a rebound to make it 3-0 at 24:09 and Mikael Johansson's superb shot beat Berry low to his left (37:13).
Mathieu Gagnon hit the pipes in the closing stages of the second period as the Panthers looked to get on the board.
Caruso scores first Panthers goal but Fife ease to win
Johansson and Kivilahti had chances early in the third session, while Welychka went close for the Panthers but Owen stood firm again.
Gagnon was thrown out for cross-checking and on the resulting five-minute powerplay, Johansson shot through traffic for Fife's fifth (52:37).
Panthers scored short-handed when Luke Ferrara's drop-pass set-up Mike Caruso to fire into the corner for this first goal for the club (53:23), but it was merely a consolation.
There was still time for Johansson's clever pass to find Phillips, who went top shelf for his second of the night (55:51).
Guildford in Nottingham on Friday
The Panthers are back in action on Friday with the visit of Elite League leaders Guildford Flames to the Motorpoint Arena (7:30pm face-off).
Nottingham and Guildford go head-to-head for the second time this season after Panthers won the first meeting of the two sides in overtime on the opening day of the season.