Jake hits overtime winner in Panthers’ playoff push
NOTTINGHAM Panthers picked up a massive two points with a 6-5 victory after overtime at Glasgow Clan in the Elite League.
Defenceman Jake Ryczek scored twice, including the overtime winner, as Panthers closed the gap on the playoff places to three points.
Stephen Anderson returned to the line-up but Ollie Betteridge and Logan Neilson missed out through injury, as did Carl Neill who picked up a knock during Saturday night’s game in Cardiff.
Netminder Rok Stojanovic started between the pipes with Luca Sheldon as back-up.
Panthers made a positive start as Westin Michaud hit the base of the post with a shot from just inside the blue line while at the other end, Stojanovic made good saves to deny Darien Craighead and Charlie Combs.
After a spell of pressure that saw chances for Anthony Luciani, Mathieu Lemay, Tyler Welsh and Jordan Kelsall, Panthers went ahead through Anderson’s wraparound (15:24).
The hosts hit back within 19 seconds as Gary Haden set up Michael Pelech, who fired a bullet into the top corner to equalise (15:43).
Didrik Henbrant fed Simon Després in the slot and his shot trickled over the line for his second goal in Panthers colours (27:43) before three goals in a little under four minutes.
Combs took advantage of a turnover to break clear and fire high past Stojanovic (30:21) to equalise and Glasgow went ahead when Alex Forbes converted an odd-man rush (32:13).
Henbrant provided the pass for Roy to equalise under two minuters later (34:30) but the hosts made it 4-3 when Luke Lynch buried the puck low past Stoanovic (38:00).
Panthers roared back 62 seconds later when Henbrant fed Roy from the left and he netted his second of the night (39:02).
Stojanovic made an excellent stop to deny Lynch on a breakaway and, soon after, Ryczek gave Nottingham the lead with a bullet from the blue line on the powerplay (41:36).
Craighead saw his shot saved by Stojanovic at the midway point of the third period, before Glasgow equalised on the powerplay as Haden pounced first to a loose puck to ensure the game went to overtime (51:37).
In overtime, Stojanovic saved from Combs at one end, while Clan netminder Antti Karjalainen denied Luciani.
Ryczek was the hero in the extra period as he skated down the right, cut to the centre and fired in the game-winning goal as Panthers secured a huge two points in the push for the playoffs (64:08).