30 Nov 2024, 19:00 | Regular season | Sheffield Arena |
Sheffield Steelers | 2-4 | Nottingham Panthers |
Periods: Shots: | 1-1 (17-6) | 0-2 (6-12) | 1-1 (10-6) | Total: 33-24 |
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Referees: #9 Joe Sewell, #48 Oliver Truswell  |  Spectators: 8736 |
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Goals and assists
Nottingham Panthers recorded their first win in Sheffield since
November 2021, and first over the Steelers in 21 games, with a
well-deserved 4-2 victory at the Utilita Arena.
After a back and
forth start to the first period, with the visitors taking two early
penalties, the hosts went ahead. Maxim Golod got lost by the Panthers
penalty kill and was excellently picked out by Mitchell Balmas to score
at the far post with 7:34 played. It took the Panthers under three
minutes to respond. Catching the Steelers on a line change, Logan
Neilson's pass set Sam Herr through on a 2-on-1 where the Panthers
captain opted to shoot himself and found the top corner of Jere
Huhtamaa's net to level things at 9:56.
Ryan Bednard came out on top of some good Steelers passing on their third powerplay of the period to keep the Panthers ahead.
The
Panthers ended period two two ahead, but arguable should have put the
game to bed by the 40-minute mark. After Patrick Watling left the puck
behind below his own blue line, Herr skated through and shot - Huhtamaa
made the save, only for Kristof Kontos to put home the rebound 5:48 into
the second. The visitors failed to capitalise on a 2-on-0 shortly
after, but did go two ahead through Hugo Roy's neat finish at 30:30.
Reid Stefanson had two excellent chances to put his side 4-1 up,
including one shorthanded breakaway, but was unable to convert either.
The
next goal was crucial, and it was eventually the Panthers who got their
fourth - captain Herr beat Huhtamaa five-hole from close range after
Kontos had done well to win the puck and found Mitch Fossier in around
the circle.
Four down with just over eight minutes to go, the
Steelers needed something fast if they were to extend their streak to 22
wins over the Panthers. Daniel Leavens did get them one back with 2:26
to go, but it was too late. An incident in the crowd also saw a delayed
restart to the game, after which the Panthers managed out the game to
secure a big two points.