NOTTINGHAM Panthers will be looking to get back on the winning trail against Braehead Clan at the National Ice Centre this afternoon (4pm) after another disappointing defeat to Cardiff Devils in South Wales.
After taking a two-goal lead in the first period with efforts from Matt Ryan – his first goal in six games – and Robert Farmer short-handed, Corey Neilson's side gave up three goals in the middle session before an empty-netter from ex-Panther Matthew Myers sealed a 4-2 win for Devils.
They could only manage 23 shots on Devils back-up goaltender, Myers' younger brother Joe, amid a succession of penalties which saw Leigh Salters binned for most of the second period after picking up an instigator call for fighting at the end of the first and then losing import defenceman Chris Murray for attempted spearing for much of the third.
Neilson said: "We did really well in the first but the penalty-kill units had to log too much ice-time and it wore us down.
"Two ten-minute penalties along the way also shortened our bench and we didn't have enough firepower up front."
Today's game also doubles up as the quarter final of the Challenge Cup, where Panthers will be bidding to win the trophy for the fifth successive year.
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