DUNDEE Stars must be sick of the sight of Nottingham Panthers, with 27 goals now flying past their netminder Chris Whitley following the 6-2 scoreline at the National Ice Centre on Saturday.

It was Panthers' third six-goal haul against the basement side which came with the help of a first hat-trick of the season for sharp-shooter David Clarke.

The Great Britain star has now racked up 30 goals this term, the fifth time he has achieved the feat in eight highly-prolific seasons for Panthers.

Panthers didn't take long to demonstrate the disparity of class between the top and bottom of the table.

After the supporters had paid their respects to Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty, who died earlier in the day, with a lengthy round of applause, Panthers set about dismantling the strugglers.

After 70 seconds, Guy Lepine put Jordan Fox through but the leading scorer fired wildly over the top.

But he made no mistake two minutes later.

After just failing to connect with the puck as he dived bravely among the skates in the goal-crease, Fox took possession from Matt Francis as it was recycled and he neatly sidestepped two defencemen and the goalie to score on the gaping net.

Corey Neilson cranked a shot onto the bar during Panthers first power-play opportunity.

But although letting that one pass them by, they maintained almost consistent pressure for Clarke to open his account from a Steve Lee rebound (9.39), neatly steering the puck home.

But on Dundee's first power-play opportunity, Jarrett Konkle got the visitors on the scoresheet (14.49), firing through Craig Kowalski's legs after the goalie had made two fine stops.

But when Stars went looking for the equaliser on another power-play late in the period, Neilson sent Matt Francis clear on a two-man breakaway and he calmly slipped the puck under Whitley to make it 3-1 (19.35).

Panthers started the second period like a train, with Neilson hitting a post and Marc Levers also going close when unmarked in front of goal.

But it took them until the 31st minute to get the fourth goal their dominance deserved, with Lepine's low shot going in off a defenceman's skate.

Interestingly, both sides took their time-outs before the period ended – Dundee in a bid to stop the onslaught and Panthers apparently to have a rest following a long shift after a second icing call.

In the final period, Dundee got a second goal against the run of play (47.07), John Dolan's effort deflected past Kowalski, before Panthers had a slice of luck of their own.

As the puck came round the boards behind Dundee's goal, it took a bad bounce right onto the stick of Clarke and he first-timed it into the roof of the net from eight yards before Whitley could move.

Back-up goalie Dan Green came on for Kowalski in the last five minutes but he didn't have a shot to face as Panthers wrapped up victory with Clarke's third from in front (57.36) on the power-play.

Now all eyes will be on the double-header against visitors Belfast at the weekend, when nothing less than two wins and four points will be good enough for Neilson's side.

Panthers will face Belfast in a repeat of last year's Challenge Cup final after the Giants' 4-1 (5-3 agg) second leg, semi-final win against Cardiff.

PANTHERS 6, DUNDEE 2

(3-1, 1-0, 2-1)

Clarke 3+0; Francis 1+2; Benedict, Lee 0+2; Lepine, Fox 1+0; Levers, Meyers, Ryhanen, Neilson 0+1

Shots on goal: Panthers (on Whitley) 41, Stars (on Kowalski 25, on Green 0) 25 (15/11, 15/7, 11/7)

Penalty minutes: Panthers 6, Stars 8 (4/4, 0/2, 2/2)

Panthers man of the match: David Clarke

Referee: Andy Carson

Attendance: 3,928

Other results: Sheffield 3, Hull 0; Coventry 5, Fife 1. League/Cup, Belfast 4, Cardiff 1 (Belfast win 5-3 on agg).