NOTTINGHAM Panthers' lingering title aspirations seem to be all over following another frustrating 'chalk and cheese' weekend.

After they put the brake on Coventry Blaze's championship bid with a superb 8-3 victory over the league leaders at the National Ice Centre on Saturday, Panthers crashed 3-0 away to Cardiff after missing a host of chances and taking too many needless penalties.

What made Saturday's victory all the more remarkable was that No.1 goaltender Kevin St Pierre was sidelined with a groin injury and Panthers called up long-time back-up Geoff Woolhouse.

He came up with a man-of-the-match display as Panthers – the recently-crowned Challenge Cup winners – embarrassed the would-be champions.

And Woolhouse did well again in South Wales. But, unfortunately, unlike 24 hours earlier, his team-mates came up short in front of goal.

It seems that Panthers are likely to finish third once again to seal a play-off quarter-final date with either Edinburgh or Sheffield.

But should results go their way, they may yet well finish second and that would give them a play-off with either Hull or Newcastle.

They can still maintain their interest when they face Edinburgh at the NIC on Wednesday, but it would need an almighty collapse from Coventry and Belfast for them to pull anything out of this league season.

Panthers started well enough in Cardiff but after Devils' Jay Latulippe clashed with David Clarke and drew an extra penalty, the home side went in front short-handed with a fine goal from Matt Miller (9.55).

The visitors should have leveled short-handed at the start of the second period, but Jay Henderson fluffed a golden opportunity in front of Stevie Lyle's goal when put through by Sean McAslan.

That missed chance was the story of Panthers' night and perhaps, their season, too.

And it got worse for them when, after a harsh penalty call on Kevin Bergin, Latulippe was left free to net No.2 on the power-play (38.24).

Woolhouse made a great stop to keep his side in it, when Miller broke away once more short-handed.

But, in the final period, Panthers didn't help their own cause with a series of needless penalties, including a misconduct for Dominic D'Amour after he reacted to being called for delay of game.

Then as tempers frayed, with Bergin and Brad Voth being kicked out in the final minute, Mike Hartwick netted Devil's empty-net third.