19 Jan 2025, 17:15 | Regular season | Fife Ice Arena |
Fife Flyers | 2-4 | Nottingham Panthers |
Periods: Shots: | 0-0 (12-15) | 2-1 (17-22) | 0-3 (12-17) | Total: 41-54 |
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Referees: #49 Daniel Ferguson, Graham Rodger  |  Spectators: 1249 |
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Goals and assists
Nottingham Panthers logged a four-point weekend with a
come-from-behind win over Fife Flyers in Kirkcaldy, scoring three in the
final nine minutes to skate away with a 4-2 victory.
"It’s always
good to have a four point weekend," said Kristoff Kontos who hit the
game winner. |It’s a long trip up for us so to come out with the two
points is a big deal."
Although the opening period ended
scoreless, both teams could have made a good chase to be ahead after 20
minutes. The Panthers draw Janis Voris into several excellent saves,
including scooping one off the goal line, denying a 2-on-1, and getting
across to stop Cooper Zech at the fast post. At the other end, Jason
Grande needed to be alert as the Flyers had long spells in his side’s
zone. Their best chance was an odd-man rush which saw the final shot go
wide, although several loose pucks around Grande’s net caused the
Panthers’ defense problems.
The Panthers did take the lead in period two. A smart Sam Herr
pass set up Mitchell Fossier to finish high past Voris 5:12 into period
two to break the deadlock. Voris made a wonderful save to keep his side
just one behind when he stopped Reid Stefanson with a point-blank
blocker save as the Panthers broke through 2-on-1.
Former Panther Massimo Carozza levelled the game at 32:28 when
Ryan Foss' pass into the slot set up Carozza for a nice finish past
Grande. Almost exactly six minutes later, the home side then took the
lead. Skating shorthanded, Kieran Craig’s initial shot was saved but the
loose puck fell kindly for him to have a second bite and beat Grande
low to make it 2-1.
Having killed off two penalties at the start of period three, the
Flyers then saw one hit the back of their net. Zsombor Garát's shot
snuck through Voris to tie the game at 50:39, although the Latvian
goalie would have wanted it back. Just over a minute later, Kris Kontos
gave the Panthers the lead with a well-worked routine off a faceoff,
being found at the fat post by Cooper Zech after the Flyers lost their
coverage at 51:46.
"It’s been a few games since I’ve scored, it
was weighing on me a little but. With that kind of time left it was
definitely nice, too," added Kontos. "We have a big Cup game on
Wednesday now that we need to get rested for, and be ready to get back
at it."
Fife had two poweprlay chances to get back level,
including a very short 5-on-3, but didn't force Grande into any serious
saves. With 97 seconds to go the home side call a timeout, took Voris to
the bench and went with the six skaters. Lucas Chiodo's shot caused
some problems in front of Grande but the Panthers defended well to keep
the Flyers out. Otto Nieminen fired into the empty net off a Matt
Spencer pass with 49 seconds remaining to wrap it up.