Nottingham Panthers 2-3 Excel Hull Stingrays
Goals from two former Nottingham Panthers, James Cooke and Konstantin Kalmikov, helped the Excel Hull Stingrays to a shock win in Nottingham over the second placed Panthers.
Once again without Stuart Kerr and Troy Neumeier, the Stingrays were also without Matt Reynolds, who was forced to visit hospital after sustaining a hand injury against Sheffield, whilst Pavel Gomenyuk looked to struggle against Sheffield.
Unsurprisingly the Panthers took a 2-0 first period lead through new signing Juraj Golcic and Brit Matt Myers, however that was as far as the Panthers lead would go.
The Stingrays came back strongly and on 27 minutes Konstantin Kalmikov scored his 14th of the season to bring the Stingrays back into the game. Then to the NIC's surprisement little over three minutes later the Stingrays were level through another former Panther, James Cooke, who scored his first of the season.
The Panthers barraged the Stingrays net in the third period with 13 shots however it was Kalmikov that would score his second of the game with less than two minutes left on the clock after a Michel Robinson mistake handed him the chance to take the win on a penalty shot.
It was a chance that the skillful Ukrainian would not pass up and in the process of scoring the shot he handed the Stingrays their third and fourth point of the season against the Panthers and recorded the Rays all time third victory in the NIC.
SOG: 33-24
PIM: 14-8
