Nottingham Panthers 6 Hull Stingrays 2

Panthers skated to the top of the Elite League and picked up two more Challenge Cup points following another convincing display at the NIC against plucky Stingrays.

Some 22 goals in only 3 home games shows the strength of the home offence and the depth was proved once again with six different players finding the net.

It was a powerplay start for the home side as David-Alexandre Beauregard scored his 10th of the season after only 6.15. Matt Francis added a second for Panthers at 13.25 but Stingrays were back in it at 17.22 when Jereme Tendler nabbed his 3rd of the season on the powerplay.

A scoring double for Panthers around the mid point of the game put them firmly in control. Player/coach Corey Neilson slammed in at 28.43 and three minutes later Robert Lachowicz made it 4-1, the score at the end of two periods.

Two more strikes in 26 seconds in the 50th minute put the home side in easy street with Jeff Heerema at 49.25 and David Clarke with his 9th of the campaign at 49.51 shooting Panthers 6-1 ahead. A consolation for Stingrays from Frantisek Bakrlik at 51.15 on the powerplay ended the scoring but it couldn’t stop the side from the Lace City sitting pretty at the top of the standings at this early part of the season.

Period Scores: 2-1, 2-0, 2-1
Penalty Mins: Not 18 – Hul 12
Powerplay: Not 1/4 – Hul 2/7
Shots On: Craig Kowalski 19 / Dan Green 4 – Christian Boucher 31 / Ben Bowns 1

Referee: Michael Hicks