The Flyers entertained the Nottingham Panthers for the first meeting of the club’s this season. The visitors were still without the injured Chase Pearson but were otherwise at full strength. The Flyers were also still without the long term injured Justin Ducharme and again Johan Porsberger but thankfully Andrew McLean was able to take his place in the lineup wearing full face protection and they also added Joe Lynch on a two way from the Edinburgh Capitals.

The Flyers had the first chance if the game in the 2^nd minute when Jeremy Masella dumped the puck into the Panthers zone and it came back out into the path of Jaka Sturm who was following in but Jason Grande made a fine kick save. A minute later and Tim Doherty was in tight on the Fife net but Shane Owen shut him down. Owen was again called into action in the 4^th minute when he held a huge one timer from Jarod Hilderman. Great tenacity by Mason Alderson in the 6^th minute saw him strip the puck from a Panthers defenceman below the goal line and his pass out to the slot saw Ben Brown fire over the net. The Panthers went on the first powerplay of the game in the 8^th minute as Sturm was assessed to have slashed the stick out of the hands of a Panthers player in a puck battle. The Fife penalty kill was strong but with 30 seconds of the man advantage still remaining Masella was given the gate for a trip as the Panthers gained the Fife zone giving the visitors a two man advantage. Owen came up with a huge save from a one timer by Matt Marcinew as the home side killed the first penalty then they completed the job with another stellar save when Owen got his stick on a David Noel shot.  Grande who had not had much to do fought off a shot from Vlastimil Dostalek in the 13^th minute and moments later the Panthers were penalised as Bryan Lemos was assessed a boarding call on Ryan Nicholson. The Flyers powerplay looked dangerous and Grande had a couple of good stops before Josh Winquist set up Dostalek but with the net gaping he tipped the puck wide as the Panthers returned to full strength. The visitors struck the opening goal at exactly 16 minutes when Doherty from behind the Flyers goal fed the puck out front and Mitch Fossier buried it behind Owen. Doherty almost doubled the advantage in the 18^th minute when he ripped a wrister off the Flyers crossbar.

The Flyers opened the second period with a dominant shift and had the Panthers hemmed in their own zone for the opening minute with Grande having to look sharp on a couple of occasions. However it was the Panthers who scored again when they caught the home side with an odd man breakout and Ollie Betteridge changed up in the slot and wired a shot low into the bottom corner stick side on Owen. An end to end rush by Ryan Nicholson in the 27^th minute ended with him drawing a hooking penalty against Ross Armour.  Didrik Henbrant had a shorthanded bid just go narrowly past the post and the Flyers man advantage failed to get a shot on net during the two minutes as Panthers completed the kill. In the 30^th minute the Panthers again broke quickly on the Flyers and Armour saw his shot held by Owen. Betteridge had another effort at goal in the 35^th minute but once again Owen stood tall and a minute later Grande flashed the leather to deny Ian Scheid from the high slot. The visitors produced a killer blow at 38.47 when Matt Spencer sniped the top corner on Owen from distance to extend the Panthers lead.

Owen kept the Flyers slim hopes of a comeback alive in the 42nd minute with a huge right pad save on Spencer.  The Flyers stopper was square to the shooter in the 46^th minute as he denied Henbrant as the Panthers enjoyed extended time in the Flyers end of the ice. The Panthers were then called for delay of game after incurring a face off infraction. The Flyers man advantage again looked dangerous as Grande was forced to make a couple of close in saves but the Flyers woes in front of net continued as Dostalek missed a glorious chance with the net gaping following a set up by Winquist. Owen was out of the blue paint in the 51^st minute as he stopped a fierce one timer from Doherty. Moments later however he was beaten as a shot went in and out of his glove and Marcinew was on hand to shovel the puck into the net. The Flyers used their coaches challenge claiming goalie interference but following video review the goal stood and the Panthers went back on the power play following the failed challenge. Owen made a desperation save as he got his stick on the puck as it was about to creep in at the post as the Flyers killed the penalty. In the 58^th minute a giveaway inside their own zone set up a chance for Jordan Kelsall who hit the outside of the pot in the final action of the game.

Pic Credits – Jillian McFarlane and Derek Young

Fife Flyers are next at home on Sunday 19th October when they entertain the Belfast Giants – tickets can be bought online here:  Tickets – Fife Flyers or look out on social media channels for box office opening times.