4 reasons the Panthers have found their spark

Unlike during the early months of the season, being a Nottingham Panthers fan is actually fun again. With the dreaded December period in full swing, there’s more than one reason to believe this one could be different to those in previous seasons, with the club having the third best record in the league over the last 15 games. Add that to qualification for a second Continental cup final in three years and it’s clear that things are looking up. 

Of course though, getting carried away is the worst thing a Panthers fan can do, especially at this time of year, but when you look at the disastrous state the club was in earlier this season, the change in fortunes has been quite drastic. Fans boycotting games, ownership investment being questioned, forwards not producing and non-existent game management among other things made turning up to games a bit of a chore not so long ago, but things are starting to come together rather quickly. Here’s 5 reasons the performances are finally on the up…

Forward thinking

Three new additions and effective line chemistry has kick started an exciting and productive offence for the Panthers. Captain Sam Herr is leading by example, with an impressive 27 points in 24 games and an even better point per game ratio in the Challenge Cup with 16 points in 9 games. 

Despite slow starts, Brett Bulmer and Dylan Malmquist are on excellent form, with Bulmer’s first goal in Coventry back in October initiating a solid run of 16 points in 16 games that only came to an end this past weekend and Malmquist finding his scoring touch that takes him to 13 points for the season. That includes a fantastic no look assist to Julian Talbot in a shutout win against Glasgow. 

Speaking of Talbot, his addition has proved to be crucial. His faceoff ability and vision have been instrumental in bringing out the best in his linemates, and himself, with 15 points in 17 games across all competitions. Alongside Ryan Horvat’s quick impact and Jake Hansen proving his doubters wrong, Panthers mid-season recruitment has been second to none. 

Brett Perlini’s composure and excellent reading of the game see him on 29 points for the season overall, but an injury in Cardiff makes him a huge loss for the time being. However, that makes Goergs Golovkovs return to the lineup very well timed. 

Slick transition

Possibly the biggest factor for this Panthers teams entertainment value, is the transition from defence to offence, which keeps the classic dump and chase less frequent than under previous coaches. This transition starts from players willing to close the opposition down defensively in numbers effectively, which force turnovers and momentum swings, making the resulting attacks explosive and purposeful. 

The movement throughout the team is constant, but not reckless. Sam Herr and Ollie Betteridge are examples of forwards who forecheck hard, both on the penalty kill and at even strength, which is well balanced by players such as Mark Matheson, who are patient and composed. 

It makes overall for a well coached team, as passing options always seem available. Finding space in key scoring areas is constant, whether on the counter attack or during offensive zone possession spells. 

New kids on the block 

As I briefly touched on earlier, Guillaume Doucet and Tim Wallace have done a fantastic job of rectifying the attacking woes that are now becoming a distant memory. 

Canadian centre Julian Talbot is winning faceoffs, and has played a significant part in getting Brett Bulmer on the score-sheet. His quick reading of the offensive zone, and clinical scoring touch has made him a heavily valuable asset. The experience he brings from 7 (and a bit) seasons in Germany and 314 AHL games have been influential on the rise of the Panthers offence.

Jake Hansen raised eyebrows when he came in, but it’s safe to say he’s put them back down, with 20 points in 20 games in EIHL competitions. He is also the clubs top scorer in the Continental Cup, boasting a 2 points per game average in the trip to Denmark. A creative and quick forward, Hansen’s impact was instant with an early goal on his debut in Cardiff. 

Another player who is settling in extremely quickly, is Ryan Horvat. Having come in as a former teammate of Sam Herr, the Canadian winger had a 3 point debut in a home win against Manchester. A tally of 4 points in 5 league games proves he is also a welcome addition to the Panthers forward unit. 

Stellar goaltending 

Kevin Carr has been, to put it bluntly, outstanding. A whopping 40 saves in a dramatic victory in Cardiff is just one of many reasons why fans can be confident with him between the pipes. He has two shutouts against title challengers Belfast and Glasgow, proving his quality in big games. Add that to standout performances in Sheffield, which included a ludicrous glove save, which is up there with the best any of us have ever seen, and it’s obvious pressure doesn’t seem to phase a goaltender who is statistically the best in the league. His goals against average is 2.77, and his save percentage is .922. 

Jackson Whistle has also proven to be a more than capable number two. He is seeing increased ice time during the hectic December schedule, and is further proof of the depth that this squad has.