Nottingham Panthers 4-1 Manchester Storm (Challenge Cup Group C) 02.11.19

Manchester Storm 1-3 Nottingham Panthers (Challenge Cup Group C) 03.11.19

Nottingham Panthers won back-to-back in a weekend for the first time this season as they saw off Manchester Storm home and away to reach the Quarter Finals of the Challenge Cup.

The Panthers have now won their last three and four of their last five with Coach Tim Wallace stating “that’s two games in a row now we’ve played with the lead and played well”.

On Saturday night at the Motorpoint Arena things didn’t all go to plan as Storm took the lead in a must win game for both sides attempts to qualify from the group stages but after Sam Herr equalised levelling at the first period thereafter it was one way traffic and when Ginn gave Nottingham a second period lead there was always going to be one winner.

Georgs Golovkovs then netted in the third period before captain Sam Herr rounded off shorthanded to set up a nice tie and advantage Panthers on Sunday afternoon.

Yesterday’s match in Altrincham went a similar way when Ehrhardt gave Storm the lead during a first period powerplay but Canadian Brett Bulmer levelled in the second before giving the visitors the lead during their own powerplay before Hansen wrapped things up in the third when Storm gambled their net minder for the extra attacker.

Coach Tim Wallace was happy with his own teams defensive display stating after “Kevin (Carr) pretty much won us the game tonight, he had some huge saves kept us in it and was the backbone for us tonight”

The Panthers now face a double header against Belfast Giants back in league action this weekend with both games at the National Ice Arena.

*Main image @PanthersIHC double delight for Nottingham Panthers over a winning weekend.