A Daniel Tedesco goal with 8 seconds left tied the game at 3 each and secured a cup point while forcing overtime then penalties, but heartbreak eventually ensued in a 4-3 defeat against the visiting Nottingham Panthers.
About 9 minutes into the contest, Panthers jumped in front in the last second of a 5 on 3 powerplay where Sam Herr was credited with the opener and they carried that difference to the break.
Less than 5 minutes into the middle set, Logan Neilson doubled the Panthers lead with the only scoring of the frame.
Flames finally cut into their deficit with their first of the night from Lewis Hook early in the 3rd and inside the last 7 minutes Matt Alvaro levelled at a pair each. A late Panthers powerplay looked grim for the home team when the Cats converted through Hugo Roy, but with time in very short supply, and with their own net empty in favour of 6 skaters, Tedesco equalized to set up the tiebreaking measures.
In a must score situation with the last shot, Ryan Tait matched the Panthers goal among the first 5 shooters, sending it sudden death where Kristoff Kontos scored against no Flames reply to secure the win and the 2nd point.
“We certainly were a lot better as the game went on, and we really put on a push in the 3rd so it was good to see that and get some timely scoring to take a point,” said Paul Dixon.
“Finding a way to play earlier in the game as we did later in the game is the objective. We are pushing the rock up a hill for sure at the moment, but a lot of good things from tonight that we can keep trying to build on.”
“We still took too many penalties, and they scored a couple of powerplay goals, but on the whole it was a move in the right direction and a game where I thought we should have had the win.”
“We will get back to it this week and try to build on this to propel us forward into the weekend with Coventry and Fife.”
