Nottingham Panthers gave themselves a timely boost before Saturday’s Elite Series start with a 6-1 win over Coventry Blaze in a warm-up game.
Both teams took the opportunity to see their players in action for the first time before they do it for real and it’s Tim Wallace who will be happier of the two coaches.
Coventry were first on the board through Sam Duggan inside the opening four minutes, but Brendan Ellis levelled things up by the end of the first period as the game was tied at this point.
Nottingham left it late in the second period to edge themselves in front with two goals in the space of four minutes to open a gap between them.
Robert Lachowicz was first, finding the net after 35 followed by Christophe Boivin with his first of the night.
Blaze were still in the game as the third period wore on, but Panthers found a way with three goals in a two-minute spell to kill Danny Stewart’s side off.
Boivin got a tip on a shot for his second of the night to make it 4-1, with Kevin Domingue sending one home a mere 24 seconds later.
Mark Matheson got the last word with Panthers’ sixth with just over five minutes to go to round off a good night’s work.
