06 Jan 2024, 19:00 | Regular season | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham |
Nottingham Panthers | 1-2 OT | Guildford Flames |
Periods: Shots: | 1-1 (9-9) | 0-0 (14-10) | 0-0 (7-6) | 0-1 (1-1) | Total: 31-26 |
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Referees: Pering/Lukosevicius  |  Spectators: 5034 |
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Goals and assists
Guildford Flames climbed into third in the Elite League standings
with a 2-1 overtime win in Nottingham, giving them their third straight
win since a shootout loss in Manchester on Boxing Day. Nottingham earned
a deserved point in front of 5,080 fans at the Motorpoint Arena.
The
Flames controlled the opening phases of the game, but both goalies were
called into excellent saves in the first period. After Steven McParland
deflected a shot just wide of Rok Stojanovič's net, the Slovene goalie
was on hand to thwart a breakaway and keep the game scoreless. Heading
the other way, Eamon McAdam saw a shot come off the top of his helmet
and then the crossbar. The deadlock was broken with 14 minutes played. A
delayed penalty on Jordan Klimek, who was also without a stick, put the
Panthers on a 6-on-5 advantage - Westin Michaud eventually worked a
loose puck to McAdam's net which was put home by Hugo Roy. That lead
lasted only 126 seconds, however, with Ryan Hughes sneaking a shot under
Stojanovič's pad after an excellent Ben O'Connor pass into the slot.
If
the Flames shaded the opening period, the Panthers definitely had the
better of the middle frame. McAdam was called into a string of
sprawling, lat-ditch saves to keep the scores level as the Panthers
threw 14 shots on the Flames' net. Guildford also survived a couple of
penalty kills where they were unable to get changes due to excellent
puck possession from the Panthers. In the closing minutes of the period,
Ryan Tait had a breakaway saved by the shoulder of Stojanovič as the
Flames looked dangerous, but the period ended without goals.
Period
three also ended scoreless, but as it draw on it was the Flames who had
the better of the possession and chances as their extra legs started to
show. The game ended tied at one each after 60 minutes and was decided
in overtime by a nice toe-drag from Matt Tugnutt who then beat
Stojanovič five-hole to give the Flames the extra point 1:58 into bonus
hockey.