Nottingham Panthers produced one of the more remarkable passages of play in this EIHL season during a 6-1 away victory over Coventry Blaze at the Skydome Arena on Sunday evening. When Ross Armour was penalised for slashing at 11:50, Coventry had the chance to get themselves into the match from the power play. Instead, Panthers scored twice while shorthanded — two goals in 24 seconds — to effectively end the contest before the first period was even done.

It was a stunning response from a side that has now won four of their last five, and a difficult afternoon for Coventry who, despite some positive results earlier in the week, were undone by a combination of their own indiscipline and Panthers' clinical finishing from every situation.

The moment that defined the match

Armour's slashing penalty at 11:50 handed Coventry a power play. Seconds later, Panthers were the ones celebrating. Chase Pearson scored shorthanded at 12:02, assisted by Matt Spencer — and before Coventry could process it, Pearson and Spencer combined again at 12:26, this time Nolan Volcan finishing from their assist to make it 2-0 also shorthanded.

Two goals in 24 seconds. Both against the run of play. Both while a man down. Coventry's power play had handed Panthers a two-goal lead.

Pearson wasn't done. He completed a superb first period by adding a third at 15:42 from Fossier's assist, sending Panthers into the break leading 3-0 and with the match already resembling a damage limitation exercise for the home side.

What makes Nottingham's first-period burst so impressive is the interconnected nature of those three strikes. Spencer assisted both shorthanded goals; Pearson scored the first and assisted the second before scoring the third; Fossier assisted the third and would later score himself in the second period — with Pearson returning the favour as primary helper.

It's a tight-knit combination that Coventry simply couldn't contain, and the two shorthanded goals in particular will be a source of genuine frustration for a home side that had come into the match with two wins in two.

Coventry's penalty sheet throughout this match is a significant part of the story. Zaine McKenzie ended the evening with no fewer than five penalties — slashing at 49:08, roughing twice at 51:26, and interference at 51:26 — along with a 10-minute misconduct for Connor Russell at 55:10. Grant Mismash was also penalised for cross-checking at 44:30. Panthers capitalised on two of Coventry's power plays for their fifth and sixth goals, making the discipline issue directly costly.

Nottingham were not blameless — Armour's slashing penalty led to a shorthanded goal against his own team, Spencer was sent off for high sticking at 43:48, and a mass altercation at 51:26 saw Kelsall take two minors for roughing, with Zech picking up a 10-minute misconduct — but on balance, the penalty differential swung heavily in Nottingham's favour.

The second and third periods settle it

Fossier made it 4-0 at 29:07 in the second period — Pearson and Zech assisting — and Panthers went into the final twenty minutes with the game well won.

The third period brought further penalties and a fight between David Noel (NOT) and Kim Tallberg (COV) at 48:02, both receiving five-minute majors. On the ice, Doherty scored on the power play at 46:07 — Garat and Zech assisting — and Marcinew added a sixth unassisted from the power play at 47:32, his second power play goal in successive home and away matches. Coventry's only response came through Mismash at 54:51 — Robbins and Constable assisting — a consolation that did nothing to change the complexion of the evening.

Kevin Carr in the Panthers goal had a quiet evening by his standards. Mat Robson in the Coventry net will want to forget it.