Nottingham Panthers 6 - 2 Excel Hull Stingrays
The Excel Hull Stingrays tough start to the season continued tonight as they conceded six goals for the third time in five games, going down by four goals to Nottingham Panthers in a doubled up league and Challenge Cup group fixture.
The Stingrays - without Jack Watkins and Ryan Lake - conceded yet another early goal, David-Alexandre Beauregard netting a powerplay marker six minutes in at the Trent FM Arena.
New Nottingham import Matt Francis then added an unassisted tally to double the Panthers lead before the Rays finally got on the board. Jereme Tendler - who appears to have begun where he left off last season - notching his third of the season at the backdoor on the powerplay as the Rays good fortune on the man advantage continued at 17.22.
Having grown into the game in the first period, eventually ending on top, the Rays leaked goals to player-coach Corey Neilson and young Brit Robert Lachowicz in the middle period, setting them back three goals from one of the favouirtes for the Elite League title.
Reigning Challenge Cup champions Nottingham would begin the third under pressure from their visitors but withheld that pressure, going on to fire two further goals past Rays keeper Boucher through Jeff Heerema and David Clarke.
Mid-way through the third both sides rested starting keepers Boucher and Craig Kowalski - with Ben Bowns making his league debut for the Rays - before Frantisek Bakrlik scored the Rays second powerplay goal of the game - a consolation goal - to settle the score at 6-2.
After claiming just one point in five fixtures against four of the EIHL's big four to open the 11/12 EIHL campaign, the Stingrays face last year's runners-up Cardiff Devils in the Challenge Cup on Saturday before taking on EIHL newcomers Fife Flyers in Hull on Sunday.
The Excel Hull Stingrays tough start to the season continued tonight as they conceded six goals for the third time in five games, going down by four goals to Nottingham Panthers in a doubled up league and Challenge Cup group fixture.
The Stingrays - without Jack Watkins and Ryan Lake - conceded yet another early goal, David-Alexandre Beauregard netting a powerplay marker six minutes in at the Trent FM Arena.
New Nottingham import Matt Francis then added an unassisted tally to double the Panthers lead before the Rays finally got on the board. Jereme Tendler - who appears to have begun where he left off last season - notching his third of the season at the backdoor on the powerplay as the Rays good fortune on the man advantage continued at 17.22.
Having grown into the game in the first period, eventually ending on top, the Rays leaked goals to player-coach Corey Neilson and young Brit Robert Lachowicz in the middle period, setting them back three goals from one of the favouirtes for the Elite League title.
Reigning Challenge Cup champions Nottingham would begin the third under pressure from their visitors but withheld that pressure, going on to fire two further goals past Rays keeper Boucher through Jeff Heerema and David Clarke.
Mid-way through the third both sides rested starting keepers Boucher and Craig Kowalski - with Ben Bowns making his league debut for the Rays - before Frantisek Bakrlik scored the Rays second powerplay goal of the game - a consolation goal - to settle the score at 6-2.
After claiming just one point in five fixtures against four of the EIHL's big four to open the 11/12 EIHL campaign, the Stingrays face last year's runners-up Cardiff Devils in the Challenge Cup on Saturday before taking on EIHL newcomers Fife Flyers in Hull on Sunday.
