Sun 3 Dec 2023 - 6:35PM
MATCH REPORT: PANTHERS 3-4 STARS
Nottingham Panthers are beaten 4-3 by Dundee Stars after a penalty shootout in a thrilling match at the Motorpoint Arena.
It secured a three-point weekend for the Panthers after last night's 4-2 victory on-the-road at Cardiff Devils.
Defenceman Josh Tetlow remained out of the line-up with a broken arm, while Mike Robinson got the start between the pipes with Luca Sheldon as back-up.
Betteridge scores Teddy Bear Toss goal
Kevin Carr made an outstanding pad save to deny Otto Nieminen in the opening stages, but moments later Simon Després and Didrik Henbrant combined to set-up Ollie Betteridge on the doorstep (2:09) to score the goal that saw hundreds of teddies rain down from the stands on Teddy Bear Toss night.
Dundee reacted well to going behind and had a strong spell of pressure, which saw Robinson superbly stop Carter Johnson's shot from the slot.
The visitors equalised through Spencer Naas' shot over Robinson's shoulder at the near-post (16:27), before Panthers went close but Hugo Roy shot over the bar.
Roy and Lemay on target in even second period
Carl Neill hit the pipes for the Panthers in the opening stages of period two, but moments later Dundee broke down the ice to score through Carter Johnson (23:43).
Nottingham needed only nine seconds to score on a second-period powerplay thanks to Roy's neat wrist-shot through traffic (32:23) and Westin Michaud's face-off win set-up Mathieu Lemay to fire top-shelf to put Panthers ahead (37:37).
But Dundee hit back when Brent Beaudoin picked out Jake Elmer at the backdoor (39:21) to ensure the two sides were level at the second intermission.
No goals in tight third period
Stephen Anderson went close early in the third period while another free-flowing move up the ice saw Panthers create a chance for Lemay.
Roy fired just over after another neat interchange of passes in the offensive zone, while Otto Nieminen was denied moments later.
Stars take extra point in shootout
​Robinson made excellent saves in overtime to deny Drydn Dow and Spencer Naas to take the game to penalty shots.
Despite two superb top-shelf finishes from Lemay and Roy in the shootout, Dundee hit back to win the game in sudden-death through Brendan Harms.