Nottingham Panthers 6 Newcastle Vipers 2

Nov 1 2010 The Journal

HIT for six on successive nights by the Elite League's top two teams, the Vipers’ current losing streak now extends to six games.

After being beaten 6-4 at home on Saturday night by the table-topping Belfast Giants, the Vipers let in two goals in each period last night as they were outplayed by second-placed Panthers.

The Vipers were chasing the game from the third minute onwards after Ian McDonald sent the puck underneath netminder Charlie Effinger, and in just over two minute it became 2-0.

Effinger made a save from Rob Bellamy, but could neither catch or guide the puck to safety and David-Alexandre Beauregard capitalised on the rebound.

After failing to breach the Panthers' defence during three successive powerplays, the Vipers got back in the game while the two sides were at even strength.

Dan Speer made an interception on his own line and broke away.

Dale Mahovsky then shot and the rebound off netminder Craig Kowalski was hit home by Speer on 18 minutes.

Defenceman Scott Langdon was serving a hooking minor when the Panthers went 3-1 ahead on 31 minutes – and again Effinger made the initial save but could not stop Dustin Sproat scoring from the rebound.

Just over six minutes later Beauregard skated from behind the goal into the slot from where he was successful with a wrist shot which beat Effinger on his right-hand side.

Five minutes into the final period the Vipers failed to kill another minor penalty when David Clarke was picked out at the far post and the powerplay score was the cue for the Panthers to swap netminders. The Vipers scored a second on 53 minutes as a result of player-coach Danny Stewart's crease-crossing pass to leading points scorer Patrik Forsbacka, who struck his 10th goal of the season past back-up netminder Dan Green.

Despite losing by only two goals. the Vipers were well beaten by the injury-hit Giants – who could only ice 12 skaters.

The Vipers surprisingly took the lead on 17 minutes through Jamie Carroll, but then conceded three goals inside eight minutes with Colin Shields (30 mins), Mike Bayrack (35 mins) and Craig Peacock (37 minutes) scoring for the visitors.

Toms Hartmanis scored a break away shorthanded goal on 38 minutes to put the Vipers back within touching distance, but further strikes from Shields (41 mins) and Josh Prudden (45) made it 5-2 to the league leaders.

Dale Mahovsky's 48th-minute powerplay success cut the three-goal deficit, but it was quickly restored by Shields, who hit home his hat-trick maker from the edge of the crease (48 mins).

Langdon shot home the Vipers' fourth with a minute left to play on the game clock to give the home fans something to cheer.

Weekend scorers

YESTERDAY – Panthers: Beauregard 2_1, McDonald 2+0, Clarke and Sproat 1+0, Bellamy and Penner 0+2, Lee, Meyers and Ryan 0+1.

Vipers: Forsbacka and Speer 1+0. Mahovsky and Stewart 0+1.

SATURDAY – Vipers: Mahovsky 1+2, Carroll, Hartmanis and Langdon 1+0, Stewart 0+2, Forsbacka, Holland, Sample and Sibley 0+1.

Giants: Shields 3+1, Bayrack and Peacock 1+2, Prudden 1+0, Gleed +2, Hoffman, Smith and Welsh 0+1.