EHL: Panthers win again
Dundee slump to fifth consecutive defeat
Last Updated: February 5, 2012 4:05pm
Aaron Clarke scored the Giants' fourth goal
Nottingham Panthers chalked up their sixth straight win in all competitions with a 6-2 home victory over Dundee Stars on Saturday.
Jordan Fox and David Clarke scored in the opening 10 minutes before Jarrett Konkle pulled one back for Dundee at 14.49.
Matt Francis restored the Panthers' two-goal advantage with 25 seconds to go in the first period and Guillaume Lepine put them three ahead at 31.27.
At 47.07 Dundee pulled one back through John Dolan but Clarke fired in his second at 52.26 and five minutes later completed his first hat-trick of the season to close things out.
Coventry Blaze hit three third period goals without reply to seal a 5-1 win over Fife Flyers in their clash in the midlands.
shut out
There was nothing to separate the teams in first period after Toms Hartmanis put the Flyers in front and Russell Cowley equalised with two minutes to go.
Jonathan Weaver was the only one to score in the second period to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage at 33.03.
But Greg Owen's goal at 41.59 and two from Owen Fussy put the game out the reach of the Flyers and helped Blaze move back into the top four.
Sheffield Steelers beat Hull Stingrays 3-0 to shut out their fellow Yorkshiremen for the second time this season and take their winning run to nine games.
Matt Stephenson's goal at 4.29 was all that split the two sides in the opening session in Sheffield but Jeff Legue doubled the hosts lead in the final minute of the second period.
The Steelers claimed their third 20 minutes later when, with the Hull goaltender off for the extra skater, Luke Fulghum found the empty net at 59.39.
Target
This year's Challenge Cup decider will be a repeat of last year after Belfast Giants beat Cardiff Devils in their double header to set up a clash with Nottingham in the final.
Stuart MacRae fired in the opening goal with just 39 seconds gone to put the Devils in front but two goals in as many minutes turned the game around as ex-Devil Jon Pelle and then Craig Peacock netted to give the Giants the lead.
Robert Dowd failed to convert a penalty shot with a minute to go in the first period but he was on target from the powerplay at 31.34 to make it 3-1
Aaron Clarke completed the scoring at 51.11 when he netted a fourth goal for the home side.
