Flames v Panthers

Match Report

Nottingham Panthers were beaten 5-4 on the road at Guildford Flames in the Elite League on Sunday night.

Panthers remained without injured forwards Matt Marcinew and Mitch Fossier, while Chase Pearson also missed the game (precaution).

Kevin Carr started between the pipes with Luca Sheldon as back-up.

Noël and Armour on target in first period
Panthers took the lead on the powerplay as Bryan Lemos fed David Noël who went top-shelf from the right-circle (10:20).

Ross Armour made it 2-0 following a scramble around the net (13:23) - a goal initially disallowed for goaltender interference but challenged by the Panthers coaching staff and overturned on video review which showed the contact was initiated by the Flames.

Guildford pulled a goal back when Cole Ully pounced on the doorstep to score on the rebound after Carr had made the first save to deny Jamal Watson (15:22).

Alfaro on target but Flames level at second intermission
Moments after Carr made a great pad save to deny Mathieu Gosselin, Ethan Strang tipped-in a shot by Jonathan Racine to equalise (23:16).

A superb stretch pass from Carr sent Panthers on a two-on-one and Johnny Curran set-up Matt Alfaro at the backdoor to put Panthers 3-2 ahead (34:51).

But Guildford were level again when Josh Waller cut inside off the right-wing and went top-shelf (39:41).

Guildford score late powerplay goal to secure victory
Flames went ahead for the first time through a bullet of shot from left-wing by Nick Seitz (42:07) before Panthers equalised on the powerplay.

A shot by Lemos was saved and the rebound fell to Tim Doherty who spotted Alfaro in a better position at the backdoor and the Panthers captain scored his second of the night (48:06).

The hosts won it with a goal on the powerplay following a huge scramble around the net as Strang lifted the puck over a prone Carr (56:16).

Panthers lifted Carr for the extra outskater and piled on the pressure, including Cooper Zech hitting the bar in the final second from close-range.