Panthers get claws into Clan to keep heat on
Glasgow Clan came unstuck in overtime against the Nottingham Panthers on Sunday – going down 6-5 to their Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) opponents.
The home loss meant Clan were unable to take maximum points last weekend after having beaten Manchester Storm in Altrincham on Saturday. That match also needed overtime to separate the sides.
On Sunday, in a pulsating match that saw the two teams battle to open an insurmountable lead, the Panthers opened the scoring in the first period, Stephen Anderson taking the puck around the net to finish off a wraparound.
Clan were riled, Mike Pelech firing home on the inside right to level the scores almost immediately after.
Simon Deprés made it 2-1 to Nottingham in the second period before Matt Barry sent Charlie Combs through and he made it 2-2.
Alex Forbes would then put the home side in front for the first time in the match but the lead would not last long, Hugo Roy levelling.
Luke Lynch restored Clan’s one-goal lead shortly after before Roy bagged his second of the game to tie the scores 4-4 going into the final period.
Anthony Luciani managed to divert Jake Ryczek’s attempted shot past Clan goaltender Antti Karjalainen to give Panthers the lead again.
Clan struck back, this time through Gary Haden, who levelled the scores yet again with just under 10 minutes remaining.
With no more goals scored the game went into overtime, during which Jake Ryczek landed the telling blow for Panthers, to win the game and take the two points.
Clan coach Jason Morgan says his team can take positives from the match, which saw them fight back countless times to take the game to overtime. Speaking to club media after the match, he said:“The confidence in the group that we can come back now from being down.
“We’ve done it numerous times now over the last month or two, that’s important, especially with some crucial games coming down the stretch. We’ve had 19 overtimes, it’s crazy.
“We’re starting to come out on the winning end more times than not, but it was an important point we lost
[here]. We traded goals in all three periods, but we just came up short.
“The standings keep getting closer and closer at the bottom there with Guildford winning, Coventry winning – every point is crucial. I know I keep saying it, but it’s reality.
“This one stings a bit, but we’ve got to go back, have some rest and then dial into the details. We’ve got a big weekend coming up.
“Credit to the guys, they’re battling, they’re competing. We’ll take the positives. Take the point and move on.”
Meanwhile, Clan forward Combs said:“A point’s alright but we wanted that other one.”
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