Nottingham blanks Odense

Two months after the fought game  in Denmark for the semifinals, won by Panthers 5-4, Nottingham and Odense Bulldogs opens the Superfinals of 2016-2017 Continental Cup, the twentieth edition of the trophy, in the small (and cold) Ritten Arena in the small village of Collalbo, some kilometres from Bolzano. While the British team arrived in Italy with high expectations and the idea to come back with the silver plate, a premiere for English hockey; Odense, having grabbed the pass in the last game against Angers, is considered the underdog of the competition, even if a dangerous one.

Panthers are on ice with three injured pieces: defender Geoff Waugh, forward David Clarke and Alex Nikiforuk, becomes a father in the last hours before the begin of Cotinental and travelling back to the UK and a new import compared to November roster: Canadian forward Jason Williams, signed after Semifinals from host Renon. Czech Petr Kalus and Slovak Kristian Kudroc left the team in December.  Odense align the same roster, with goalie Tadeas Galansky suddenly under pressure: after a shot from McGrattan missing the net, the Danish goalie has to rebound twice on same McGrattan  and on captain Brad Moran and to make a great save on Lachowitz at minute 17. While  Miika Wiikman has to rebound a couple of tries by Danish, Galansky is constantly busy: Carter and Moran have chances before the first siren.

Odense begins second period with more stamina and finally force Wiikman to a couple of real saves, on Pedersen and Bjerrum, on the other side Galansky is reactive in deflecting with the pad  on Lachowitz. With extra-attacker Odense has chances with Sterner and Mitchell, well rebounded by Wiikman and on following powerplay Bjerrum opts to shot instead to pass for a well-positioned teammate. After a promising start, the period becoming quite boring, with teams very cautious and defences working well. After a dangerous attempt from long-range by Pedersen at 39, the stasis is broken with 23 seconds to play: a pass from Stephen Schults crosses the Odense defence to find the precise deflection by Brad Moran, leaving no chances for Galansky.

Nottingham Panthers fans follow the team in Collalbo

The Panthers seal the victory after 7 minutes in the last period with a beautiful combination Jeff Brown – Brad Moran, finished by the last with an easy deflection. Matt Carter has the chance to triple the score one minute after, but his shot whistles near the post. At 53 Galansky is reactive twice on Williams and amazing at 55 on Brown. Shultz shots out before Galansky was pulled off for the final desperate assault by Odense

Nottingham earns the first deserved points confirming the favouritism, Odense has the chance to be back on track tomorrow

Panthers coach Corey Neilson is happy with the game played by his guys: "we played good defense and when you do that in championship level games, you tend to win."

MVP: Brad Moran – Andreas Pedersen

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