NOTTINGHAM, UK. A confident 5-0 victory over the Coventry Blaze quickly followed by a crushing 7-2 loss against title rivals the Cardiff Devils last weekend saw the Panthers take just two points from four whilst seeing more key players fall foul of injuries.
The casualties were already mounting with David Clarke, Max Parent, Bruce Graham and Chris Higgins all side-lined prior to the weekends festivities and now with key British defencemen Steve Lee expected to be out for at least a few weeks coach Corey Neilson has it all to do to keep his battle weary squad hunting down every point he can get.
Lee is hard to replace, he is a hard-nosed defencemen who can strike from the point with clinical efficiency and quarter back the power play. The Panthers demonstrated that they always have the ace tucked up their sleeve by re-signing former Panther Colby Cohen, a talented American defencemen who was previously signed for the CHL back in September. Due to various injuries Neilson has the luxury of an extra import slot and with solid British defencemen a high commodity, turning to Cohen saved the Panthers having to ice with a huge short fall on the blue line.
Cohen plays a different style to Lee but with players such as Brandon Benedict and Evan Mosey demonstrating their abilities to play in defence or offence Neilson should be able to work a solution that minimises the loss of Lee. With an enviable tandem of Craig Kowalski and Matias Modig, it has to be said that in spite of everything the Panthers are looking solid at the back and in a couple of weeks they could have Lee back completing what is arguably one of the most dynamic defensive cores in the EIHL.
Offensively things could take a leap forward as well this weekend. Chris Higgins could return against his former club, the Belfast Giants, on Sunday and Guillaume Doucet is settling in nicely. As Doucet was brought in just after Higgins was injured a couple of weeks ago they have not yet played together but with both players demonstrating they have the scoring touch on top of immense skill, the potential to wreak havoc on the opponents blue line is high and will be a sight to behold if fulfilled.
This weekend will see the Panthers play the Belfast Giants and Braehead Clan who currently reside at the top of the EIHL. Both teams have games in hand on the Panthers adding extra value to the already critical points which is sure to lead to an exciting weekend of hockey for the Nottingham Panthers.
You must be logged in to post a comment.