In a back and forth opening leg of the playoff quarter final, each team led and trailed at different times before a 3rd period Ethan Strang goal gave Flames a 3-2 win and a single goal aggregate lead ahead of Sunday’s return visit to Nottingham for the series closer.
At 3:31 Flames got the scoring started through Jack Jacome, but little under 4 minutes from period time Tim Doherty knotted the game at a goal each.
Late in the middle set, Panthers were the first to go on the powerplay and Doherty made the most of it with his 2nd of the contest in the 35th minute, but a Daniel Tedesco reply just over a minute and a half later survived a quick video review to send team to the 3rd deadlocked at a pair each.
Inside the final 10 minutes, Strang’s difference maker held up even through a Panthers final powerplay for the last 2 minutes to ensure Spectrum’s men take the advantage to start Leg 2.
Eamon McAdam posted the win with 43 saves on 45 shots against Jason Grande who stopped 30 of 33.
“That was a good game by a pair of teams who wanted to play tonight,” said Paul Dixon.
“We played as physical as we could and we took our chances when they presented themselves to be in a good spot heading to Sunday.”
“We have often said when you come out of the 1st game, up a goal, down a goal, or tied is anyone’s series to take so we have to remember this is nothing more than a 1 goal lead in a 6 period hockey game with at least half the game remaining.”
“We have to be ready to repeat what we did here tonight and hopefully it will be enough to overcome a very good Panthers side who we know will come out with a lot of purpose in less than 24 hours.”
