final
Nottingham Panthers
1:10
(1:2, 0:6, 0:2)
Luleå Hockey
Jon Rowson
Goals and assists:
17. Benedict (Lachowicz, Cohen) – 4. Sandstrom, 6. Fabricius (Forsberg), 21. Abbott (Petrell, Fagerudd), 23. Fabricius (Forsberg), 23. Cehlarik (Petrell, Sandstrom), 34. Dixon (Abbott, Fagerudd), 38. Fabricius (Fogstrom), 39. Nakyva (Wallmark, Kukan), 57. Abbott (Dixon, Lundqvist), 60. Petrell (Abbott, Dixon)
Referees: S. Warshaw (AUT), M. Hicks (GBR) – L. Young (GBR), A. Dalton (GBR)
Attendance:
Penalty missed:
Nottingham Panthers:
Kowalski, 23. Raitums – Mosey, Berube, Lee, Cohen, Schmidt, Landry, Oakford – Graham, Benedict (C), Higgins – Lawrence, Farmer, Robinson – Lachowicz, Parent, Jacina – Betteridge, Podlesak, Boxill
Subs:
Coach:
Luleå Hockey: Larsson (Lassinantti) – Kukan, Nakyva, Fagerudd, Sandstrom, Oskarsson, Hjelm, Lundqvist – Mannberg, Cam Abbott, Chris Abbott (C) – Dixon, Cehlarik, Petrell – Wallmark, Zaar, Ledin – Fogstrom, Bryggman, Fabricius, Forsberg
Subs:
Coach:
Subs:
Coach:
Luleå Hockey: Larsson (Lassinantti) – Kukan, Nakyva, Fagerudd, Sandstrom, Oskarsson, Hjelm, Lundqvist – Mannberg, Cam Abbott, Chris Abbott (C) – Dixon, Cehlarik, Petrell – Wallmark, Zaar, Ledin – Fogstrom, Bryggman, Fabricius, Forsberg
Subs:
Coach:
Referees: S. Warshaw (AUT), M. Hicks (GBR) – L. Young (GBR), A. Dalton (GBR)
Attendance:
We have double figures on the board for the first time in the Champions Hockey League. It's an unfortunate break for the Panthers as LENNART PETRELL's centreing feed goes off the leg of Craig Berube and crosses the line. Powerplay goal. Assists to: Cam Abbott and Stephen Dixon.
Nottingham Panthers – Luleå Hockey 1:10
The Swedish side have their ninth of the game and it's by far the scrappiest goal. CAM ABBOTT holds the puck to the left of Raitums, just behind the goal line. He's patient and eventually banks the puck off Raitums' back and over the line. It's his second of the game. Assists to: Stephen Dixon and Olov Lundqvist.
Nottingham Panthers – Luleå Hockey 1:9
Nottingham Panthers 4 (8)
Lulea Hockey 13 (24)
The legs have well and truly gone for the Panthers now. Bryan Schmidt looks to have won the puck but KRISTIAN NAKYVA steals it as he leaves the box, goes in alone on Raitums and beats the Latvian goaltender on the forehand. Assisted by: Lucas Wallmark and Dean Kukan.
Nottingham Panthers – Luleå Hockey 1:8
After the great chance for Nottingham, Lulea win the puck back and burn the Panthers for speed and score shorthanded. It's a hatrick for CARL FABRICIUS, as Raitums gets a piece of his wrist shot but it trickles over the line to extend Lulea's lead to six. Assisted by: Niclas Fogstrom.
Nottingham Panthers – Luleå Hockey 1:7
Thirty seconds later, however, Lulea have their fourth goal of the period and are truly in the driving seat. Cam Abbott's shot is blocked out in front, but STEPHEN DIXON is first to the loose puck and his nifty backhand move fools Raitums, and he buries the puck to make it 6-1 Lulea. Assisted by: Cam Abbott and Marcus Fagerudd.
It's now 5-1 to Lulea as Raitums is beaten on his first shot of the game and the Swedish side have two goals in 26 seconds. Pettrell is involved in the build up play once again, finding PETER CEHLARIK who lights the lamp. Assisted by: Lennart Petrell and Jan Sandstrom.
Really slack play by Bruce Graham and Stephen Lee, who basically give Lulea an open invitation to cross the blueline. The puck is eventually worked out to the left wing, and KARL FABRICIUS picks up his second of the game with a laser beam from the left wing circle. Assisted by: Johan Forsberg.
Nottingham replace Craig Kowalski with Martins Raitums
Just like that, 41 seconds into the second period, Lulea have the powerplay goal and have retaken a two goal lead. Lennart Petrell dishes the puck from the left wing across the face off goal, and CAM ABBOTT is there to hammer the puck home from close range. The second assist goes to Marcus Fagerudd. Assisted by: Lennart Petrell and Marcus Fagerudd.
Shots on goal in the first period:
Nottingham Panthers 4
Lulea Hockey 11
It's been a decent first period at the National Ice Centre. It looked like Lulea were going to run away with things after six minutes, as goals from Jan Sandstrom and Karl Fabricius put the Swedish side 2-0 up, but the Panthers have rallied back and do look dangerous going forward. Captain Brandon Benedict brought the Panthers to within one with his powerplay goal with three and a half minutes left to play in the opening frame.
It's poor play by Robert Lachowicz initially, as his pass leaves the zone, but the British forward carries it in on the right wing, drop passes it to Colby Cohen whose slapshot is saved by Daniel Larsson, Lachowicz's rebound is effort is blocked but Panthers captain BRANDON BENEDICT is first to the puck and lights the lamp. Panthers are back to within one with three and a half minutes left in the first. Assisted by: Robert Lachowicz and Chris Cohen.
Yesterday the Panthers were 2-0 down after nine minutes. Today they are 2-0 down after six minutes as Lulea grab another goal. Johan Forsberg finds CARL FABRICIUS at the left wing circle, who beats Kowalski glove side. Assisted by: Johan Forsberg.
Less than four minutes in and Lulea have jumped out to a 1-0 lead. JAN SANDSTROM fires a looping wrist shot from the left point which may have taken a deflection on the way through but eludes the grasp of Kowalski and nestles in the back of the net. No assist.
Nottingham Panthers: Kowalski (Raitums) – Mosey, Berube, Lee, Cohen, Schmidt, Landry, Oakford – Graham, Benedict (C), Higgins – Lawrence, Farmer, Robinson – Lachowicz, Parent, Jacina – Betteridge, Podlesak, Boxill
Luleå Hockey: Larsson (Lassinantti) – Kukan, Nakyva, Fagerudd, Sandstrom, Oskarsson, Hjelm, Lundqvist – Mannberg, Cam Abbott, Chris Abbott (C) – Dixon, Cehlarik, Petrell – Wallmark, Zaar, Ledin – Fogstrom, Bryggman, Fabricius, Forsberg
Referees: S. Warshaw (AUT), M. Hicks (GBR) – L. Young (GBR), A. Dalton (GBR).
Lulea have made a few changes from the team which beat Hamburg 4-1. In come defenceman Olov Lundqvist and forward Lars Bryggman. Out come Per Savilahti-Nagander and Jonathan Granstrom.
David Clarke is still missing for the Panthers.
Starting goaltenders are Craig Kowalski and Daniel Larsson.
The Panthers will be sweating on the fitness of last season’s top scorer David Clarke, but will be looking for Stephen Lee to continue his fine form. Lee will wear the Cramo Top Scorer’s jersey after a pair of goals in the game against Lukko. Panthers head coach Corey Neilson put Lee out on the first powerplay unit and the British defenceman showing that Neilson put his trust in the right place.
It was comfortable for Luleå against Hamburg, as the Swedish side scored four times in the opening period to put the game out of reach. Forward Per Ledin scored twice while Daniel Zaar added three assists. Luleå showed how dangerous their powerplay is, as they scored three times with the man advantage, something that Nottingham will have to be aware with.
The Swedish side will be favourites for this game, especially as they were able to take their foot off the gas in the third period, while Nottingham fought to the bitter end in a losing effort. However, with the home crowd on their side, the Panthers may be able to pull off the upset.
We will bring you all the action will be live from the National Ice Centre in Nottingham as the puck drops at 14:35 CET (13:35 GMT).