08 Dec 2024, 16:00 | Regular season | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham |
Nottingham Panthers | 3-1 | Cardiff Devils |
Periods: Shots: | 2-1 (9-11) | 0-0 (11-5) | 1-0 (7-19) | Total: 27-35 |
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Referees: #48 Oliver Truswell, #23 Andrew Miller  |  Spectators: 5621 |
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Goals and assists
League leaders Cardiff Devils were beaten 3-1 at the Motorpoint Arena
by Nottingham Panthers on Sunday afternoon, extending their poor run in
that building to just one win in their last eight competitive fixtures
against the Panthers.
The Devils started the better team,
controlling the opening phases, and were deservedly ahead inside five
minutes. With 4:02 on the board, Josh MacDonald worked the puck into the
slot from below the goal line to Joey Martin who beat Ryan Bednard
five-hole.
That goal by the visitors took the atmosphere out of
the game somewhat, and the Devils would have been forgiven for being
disappointed to be level at the break – let alone behind.
A loose
play into the slot saw Sam Herr left all alone to beat Ben Bowns high,
popping the water bottle on the roof of his net at 11:33. With 2:39 left
in the period, Otto Nieminen finished on the powerplay to put the
Panthers ahead.
If the Devils were feeling unlucky to be down by
one after the opening period, the Panthers would have been somewhat
disappointed to not be more ahead after the second. Hugo Roy almost
jammed a puck in past Bowns at his near post, while Didrik Henbrand was a
constant threat with his speed on the rush. The period ended without a
change in the scoring, despite the Devils being heavily outshot.
Having
been disappointing for the opening phases of the third period, the
Devils began to apply some pressure on the Panthers net in the final 10
minutes. Bowns made two excellent saves to keep it a one-goal game – one
off Kristoff Kontos in front, and the other off Sam Herr after the puck
had bobbled over Evan Mosey’s stick on his own blue line.
Bowns was pulled with slightly over three minutes to play as the
Devils looked for the tying goal. Hunter Shinkaruk had a golden chance
on his backhand in front of Ryan Bednard but couldn't get the puck under
control enough to get a decent shot away. The Devils were camped inside
the Panthers zone for most of the final three minutes, but a misplay
from Cody Donaghey when skating back for a cleared puck saw the puck
land on the stick of Henbrant to skate through and slot into the empty
net with 30 seconds remaining and seal the win.