Kalus double gives Panthers crucial edge over Steelers

UPHILL BATTLE: Jason Hewitt tries to break down a Nottingham Panthers attack at the Motorpoint Arena last night. Picture: Dean Woolley.

With hopes of a regular season Elite League title for both teams gone, the competition is one of two avenues open for success together with the play-offs.

But it is Nottingham who will hold sway going into the second leg at the National Ice Centre, with two goals in the last 10 minutes from Petr Kalus proving decisive.

Earlier, the arch-rivals traded goals, Leigh Salters’ opener being cancelled out by Chad Langlais.

Panthers then went into a 3-1 lead through Robert Lachowicz and Robert Farmer, before Steelers hauled themselves level after three minutes into the third period thanks to strikes from defencemen Drew Fata and Gord Baldwin.

The return leg will take place next Tuesday, before which the Steelers must rally themselves for a long trip in the league to a resurgent Cardiff Devils on Sunday.

Hull Stingrays suffered an 8-4 defeat at Braehead Clan, cutting their Gardiner Conference lead to just one point.

Jereme Tendler gave Hull a fourth-minute lead in Glasgow before the Clan rattled in seven unanswered goals.

Sylvain Cloutier, Carl Lauzon and Guillaume Doucet hit back to give the scoreline a degree of respectability.

Stingrays will now look to bounce back when Cardiff Devils visit Hull Arena on Saturday night (6.30pm) before they head to Fife Flyers on Sunday.