Panthers crush Capitals

Panthers: Home win

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Nottingham's David Clarke found the net four times against Edinburgh Capitals to contribute to a 7-3 home win for the Panthers.

The first period yielded seven goals, with Clarke opening the scoring at 1.15 for the hosts and doubling the lead on the powerplay at 4.26.

Panthers went 3-0 up at 7.34 with a Bruce Richardson strike and Cameron Mann added number four at 9.13, with the home side appearing to have the points in the bag.

However, the visitors put up an admirable fight and goals by Scott McKenzie, Martin Cingel and Simon Lambert made it a one-goal game, but Clarke completed his hat-trick and added one more in the second period to wrap up the win for Panthers.

Force

Struggling Hull Stingrays failed to build on their place at the bottom of the league as Cardiff Devils completed a convincing 6-0 shutout.

Goaltender Stevie Lyle proved a force to be reckoned with for the Devils, making 21 saves.

The Welsh side failed to breach the visiting defence until the second period but Mark Smith eventually put them ahead and the home side coasted from there.

Tylor Michel, Phil Hill and Brad Voth also secured strikes for the Devils before Max Birbraer scored a brace in the final session to seal the victory and send the injury-plagued Stingrays home empty-handed.

Coventry Blaze took the points from Belfast Giants, securing a 4-3 win to regain their league-leading position.

The home side outshot Blaze 21-4 in the opening period but Blaze found their feet in the second with a powerplay strike from Adam Calder at 26.19.

Pat Bateman levelled the scores at 29.12 but Blaze were on their way and further goals from Jason Robinson and Greg Chambers put the visitors firmly in control.

Giants made it a one-goal game when Colin Shields found the net in the third period, but Chamber scored the crucial goal at 56.04 and although Jeff Szwez pulled one back for the home side 29 seconds later, Blaze held on to claim the win and the top spot in the standings.

Road win

Sheffield Steelers followed up their Friday victory over Newcastle Vipers by making it two for two with a 6-4 road win over the north east side.

An action-packed clash saw Vipers initially take the lead at 1.32 as Matic Kralj fired home, then go two ahead at 4.03 thanks to a Mike Berry strike, with Steelers Jason Hewitt ejected after that goal on a 10+game for abuse.

This seemed to ignite the visitors and Matt Hubbauer pulled one back 34 seconds later before Jeff Legue evened things up on the powerplay at 8.48 for the Steelers then scored again to put the visitors ahead.

The home side responded and made it 3-3 when Matus Petricko found the net at 16.01, but the Steelers hit three straight to take a 6-3 lead thanks to Joey Talbot, Rod Sarich and another from Hubbauer.

Kralj got one back for Vipers before the break but the third period was goalless despite a valiant effort by the hosts and Steelers took both points to continue their steady climb up the table.