It’s fair to say the cobwebs have been well and truly blown off after an intense opening weekend of action and after a day’s rest, we’re back into the competition.
Only one game took place as Manchester Storm, fresh from their two wins at the weekend, took on Nottingham Panthers to begin the next phase of games in the competition.
DAILY HEADLINES
PRE-GAME POLL
? WHO WILL WIN? ?
? @Mcr_Storm ? @PanthersIHC
? #2021EliteSeries
?@nottinghamarena
? 7pm
? https://t.co/RhJ2ucMU0M— British Ice Hockey ? (@BritIceHockey) April 6, 2021
GAME RECAP
MANCHESTER STORM 1 NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS 3
Nottingham Panthers finally got their first win on the board at the Elite Series and ended Manchester Storm’s decent start to the competition in the process.
After the exertions of the weekend, both teams were back in action after a rest day on Monday and it was a game that deservedly went the way of Nottingham, who had coach Tim Wallace back on the bench.
They got the perfect start inside the first minute when Christophe Boivin nudged forward for Kevin Domingue, which was initially saved by Sean Bonar, but Boivin reacted first to sweep it past Ben Bowns.
Storm were back on level terms minutes later, taking advantage of a five-on-three powerplay as Cam Critchlow and Tyson Fawcett combined to send it into the centre, where Ciaran Long was on hand to tuck into the net.
Panthers managed to get themselves in front five minutes into the second period when they had the powerplay, with Boivin setting up Brendan Ellis with a square pass on the blue line and the D-man smashing it into the net.
Tim Wallace’s side grabbed the initiative in the opening seconds of the third period when they surged forward, Austin Cangelosi setting up Lewis Hook on his left and the forward sending a decent effort high into the net to make it 3-1.
Storm couldn’t find a way back as Bowns stood strong between the pipes and Panthers held on to claim a well earned win to get their first points of the Elite Series.
SHOTS ON GOAL:Â Storm 34 Panthers 26
GOALSCORERS:
STORM – Ciaran Long (06:41 – Critchlow, Fawcett PP)
PANTHERS – Christophe Boivin (00:49 – Domingue); Brendan Ellis (25:40 – Boivin, Dineen PP); Lewis Hook (40:11 – Cangelosi, Ellis)
POST GAME REACTION
PHOTOS
