18 Feb 2024, 16:00 | Regular season | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham |
Nottingham Panthers | 3-2 OT | Fife Flyers |
Periods: Shots: | 1-0 (17-5) | 0-0 (11-8) | 1-2 (11-7) | 1-0 (1-0) | Total: 40-20 |
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Referees: Dalton/Anderson  |  Spectators: 4521 |
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Goals and assists
Nottingham Panthers and Fife Flyers moved themselves closer to the
playoff places, but it was the hosts who came out happier after taking
an overtime win in a tight game at the Motorpoint Arena.
The
Panthers outside their visitors 17-5 in the opening period, but only had
one goal to show for it through the opening 20 minutes. A bad bounce
off Kevin Wehrs' skates after the Flyers won a defensive zone faceoff
saw the puck fall kindly to Alexander Lunsjo for a quick finish in the
slot. The Flyers didn't have a shot on target until past the 16-minute
mark in the period but ended the period behind despite a late flurry,
and did hit a post in their search for an equaliser.
There were no
goals through period two but both teams had their goalies to thank for
keeping it a one-goal game. Dominik Salama made an excellent save off a
Logan Neilson shot at the far post to deny the Panthers' forward a third
goal in as many games. At the other end, Troy Lajeunesse had a late
chance on Stojanovič as the period ended as it had started.
Aleksi
Makela for Fife a deserved equaliser from the point at 45:49 to bring
the game all square. Minutes later, Myles McGurty saw his shot beat
Salama but come back off the bar as the game stayed level, but on the
very next attack Neilson did make it three in three to put the Panthers
back ahead at 49:01. The Panthers, however, turned the puck over in
their own zone straight to Max Humitz who turned and shot past
Stojanovič to tie the game at 52:54.
Overtime followed, and it
took only 33 seconds for the extra point to be won - Otto Nieminen beat
fellow countryman Salama with a shot form just over the blue line to win
it for the Panthers.