Sat 19 Apr 2025 - 06:00AM
SEMI-FINAL PREVIEW AS PANTHERS FACE STEELERS
Nottingham Panthers face Sheffield Steelers in the Elite League Playoffs semi-finals at the Motorpoint Arena this evening (7pm).
It's a huge night as the two biggest rivals in British ice hockey go head-to-head on the biggest weekend of the season.
Panthers reached the Final Four with a pulsating 8-6 two-legged quarter-final victory over Guildford Flames where the lead changed hands six times.
Tim Doherty scored twice in the first leg as Panthers fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat at The Spectrum.
In the second leg in-front of a sold-out Motorpoint Arena, Panthers raced to into a two-goal through Davis Bunz and Mitch Fossier.
Ethan Strang and former Panther Brett Welychka swung the tie back Guildford's way, but the Panthers roared back with two goals in 44 seconds through Hugo Roy and Fossier with this second.
Fossier scored a penalty-shot to complete his hat-trick, but Guildford hit back again through Brett Ferguson to make it a one-goal game.
Matt Spencer's empty-net goal sealed the victory for the Panthers and a place in the Final Four.
Steelers beat Clan for a place in Final Four
Sheffield booked their place at Playoff Finals Weekend with a 5-4 aggregate victory over Glasgow Clan.
The Steelers were 3-1 down after the first leg in Scotland but won 3-1 in the second leg which saw the game go to overtime.
Patrick Watling was the hero for the Steelers in the extra period with the game-winning goal.
View from the Panthers Locker Room
Head Coach, Danny Stewart, said: "All four teams in the finals weekend are very good teams. We're ready and the guys are excited.
"Last weekend (against Guildford) was really playoff hockey. Both teams played with intensity which was great.
"I expect nothing less this weekend. You have four really good teams with not a lot between them and fine margins will certainly be the difference."
Forward, Matt Alfaro, said: "We know that if we play fast-paced we're going to be in the game and have a really good chance to win.
"The fans have been with us all season, though the ups and the downs, so to cap of the season for them with a trophy would be great."
Defenceman, Zsombor Garát, said: "This is a very special group and we want to make it memorable.
"Playoff hockey is always intense and with our rivalry with Sheffield it's going to make it even more intense.
"We know how much these means for us as a group and for us united with our fans and everybody involved with the Panthers."
Memory Lane
These two sides met at this stage of the competition back in 2011 when Panthers secured a famous overtime victory on the way to beating Cardiff Devils 5-4 in the final to lift the trophy.
The Steelers roared into a two-goal lead in a little over five minutes with goals for Ben Simon and Robert Dowd, before Marc Levers and David-Alexandre Beauregard ensured the score was level at the first intermission.
After no goals in the second period, Jeff Heerema edged Panthers ahead but Sheffield hit back within a minute as Simon scored on the powerplay for his second goal of the night.
Nottingham-born Robert Lachowicz scored the game-winner in overtime as Panthers secured a breathtaking victory.
Panthers v Steelers on Elite League TV and BBC radio
If you've not got a ticket for POFW, you can follow this evening's game on a webcast via Elite League TV.
Today's semi-finals as well as Sunday's third v fourth-placed game and Grand Final are all available to purchase. Sunday's final is also live on Premier Sports.
Click here for more details and to buy the webcast.
There's also coverage of this evening's semi-final from BBC Radio Nottingham with Chris Gadsby and former Panthers netminder Dan Green.
Listen via 103.8fm or online by clicking here.