Challenge Cup Final: Panthers 4, Cardiff 5 (8-7 agg)

JUBILANT Nottingham Panthers rode the roller-coaster and came out on top to win the Elite League Challenge Cup for the third time after a pulsating final against Cardiff Devils at the National Ice Centre.

The lost this second leg 5-4 – after coming back from 2-0 and 3-1 down – but held on to snatch victory, 8-7 on aggregate.

When the Devils took charge, Panthers could have panicked . . . they could have buckled – and they certainly never make it easy for their fans.

But, with all due respect to Cardiff, who helped to make the final the thriller it was, Panthers always seemed to have that bit extra, despite some lapses at the back.

They hit the goal-frame three times and if those had gone in, the game could have been over and done with by the middle of the second period.

But as they have done so many times this season, they seem to put their foot on the gas for just as long as is necessary to seal the win.

This time, after Cardiff had led 3-1 by the 24th minute to level the aggregate scores, Panthers upped the ante with three goals inside four minutes at the half-way stage.

And despite Cardiff bravely battling back with two more goals – one looking clearly offside – Panthers calmly took the heat out of the game.

Panthers came out all guns blazing with Devils' goaltender Stevie Lyle having to keep out Marc Levers and Jade Galbraith early on.

But against the run of play, Cardiff broke clear to open the scoring.

When Panthers unwisely sent in two forecheckers, Cardiff got the puck up quickly to the unmarked Tylor Michel on the right, and he powered his shot across Kevin St Pierre (3.24).

Bruce Richardson miscued in front of the open net shortly afterwards as Panthers hit back before Cameron Mann neatly put away a short-handed effort that was harshly washed out by referee Moray Hanson.

Mann was penalised for hooking when he did no more than jostle for the puck and win it.

That left Panthers facing 1min 50secs killing a 3-on-5 power-play , which they did with relative ease.

But when they were back at full strength, Cardiff defenceman Wes Jarvis fluffed his shot from the left circle, which surprised St Pierre and the goalie allowed the puck to bobble over his stick into the net (12.13).

Panthers then had a 5-on-3 power-play of their own and they didn't let this one pass them by. Corey Neilson cannoned his shot off a post but Panthers retained possession and Cameron Mann switched the puck back to his player-coach to drill home (17.47).

At the start of the second period, Levers should have passed to David Clarke who had an open net to level it up.

But instead, Max Birbraer made it 3-1 to the visitors after the linesmen ignored what seemed a clear offside.

Within four minutes, though, it was 3-3 and game on.

Marty Gascon seemed to have missed his chance but, on his back and facing away from goal, he somehow managed to steer the puck home (26.22).

Before Cardiff had time to catch their breath, Levers neatly backhanded in a rebound (26.22) to get the Panthers fan on their feet.

Cardiff called a time-out to settle things down, but it didn't do much good as David Clarke made it 4-3 with a goal similar to Levers' (30.28).

Cardiff weren't done, though, and Birbraer hit a fourth (34.08) to leave the final period nicely poised.

But despite Mark Smith netting a fifth for Devils, Panthers were in no mood to let this one slip as the celebrations began in earnest.