Panthers take home win over Devils

Photo: Panthers Images

Nottingham Panthers made it two straight league wins with a one-goal win over Cardiff Devils at the Motorpoint Arena on Saturday night.

The Panthers made an excellent start to the game with pucks thrown at Ben Bowns' net from the net. Stephen Anderson gave them a deserved lead with 5:12 played off a pass from Myles McGurty, out-waiting Bowns who went down and left Anderson with the top of the net to aim at. The hosts also saw Ott Nieminen hit the post in the opening period, with Ryan Barrow having the best chance of the period for the Devils at the other end.

Tyler Busch levelled for the improved Devils 3:59 into period two with a quick release through Rok Stojanovič's five whole, but the hosts pushed up a gear again and netted two quick goals. Otto Nieminen reacted quickest to a loose puck in Bowns' crease to put the Panthers back ahead at 35:16, and 40 seconds later some wonderful hands from Hugo Roy saw him convert a Didrik Henbrant pass and make it 3-1 to the hosts.

Cardiff tried to get things going in the final period but struggled until the final stages. With Bowns pulled and on a powerplay, Trevor Cox bundled the puck over the line to get the Devils back to within one with 65 seconds remaining. They couldn't, however, find an equaliser and the Panthers held on for a well-earned win.