Panthers hit back but are beaten in penalty shoot-out
NOTTINGHAM Panthers staged a dramatic comeback on Corey Neilson’s return as head coach but were beaten 3-2 at Sheffield Steelers after penalty shots.
The Panthers were 2-0 down but Brett Welycka reduced the arrears and Kelly Summers scored with five seconds remaining to secure a point, before Steelers took the extra point in the shoot-out.
Netminder Alex Dubeau returned after missing the past four games with injury, while Nottingham Lions goalie Luca Sheldon served as backup.
Defenceman Craig Moore (weekto-week) was unavailable after taking a puck to the face last week against Guildford.
Panthers lost Duggie Lagrone early in the game after he was stretchered off following a heavy fall. He received medical attention during the game and will be undergoing further assessments once home, but was able to walk out of the rink to join the team on the coach back to Nottingham.
There were few chances in a scoreless first period.
Dubeau was called into action within eight seconds, making a save down low from Robert Dowd.
Summers and Luke Ferrara went closest for the Panthers but saw their shots saved by Matt Greenfield.
In the second period, after Mike Hammond and Tanner Sorenson had chances within a minute of the restart, Danny Kristo put Sheffield ahead with a low shot through the five-hole (21:05).
The hosts scored again 85 seconds later through Sebastien Piche’s top-shelf finish through traffic from the blueline (22:27).
Welychka scored his 10th goal of the season to reduce the arrears in the closing stages of the period, reacting first to a rebound on the doorstep (39:15).
There were early chances for both sides at the start of the third session as Robert Dowd used his speed to go close for the Steelers, before Adam Brady was denied at the other end.
Panthers grabbed an equaliser with only five seconds remaining as Hammond set up Summers to score from the blueline on a six-on-four play, with Dubeau lifted for the extra skater and Steelers on the penalty kill after Greenfield was called for a delay of game for kicking the net off its moorings (59:55).
Overtime was scoreless and saw end-to-end action but no real clear-cut chances, so the game went to penalty shots.
Panthers were unable to score on seven attempts and Steelers failed to convert their first six before Brendan Connolly found the net to secure his side the extra point.