Elite League: Nottingham Panthers 4 Edinburgh Capitals 2

INJURY-HIT Edinburgh Capitals slipped to a 4-2 defeat at Nottingham Panthers last night but they pushed the high-flyers all the way writes Nigel Duncan.

Chris Lawrence secured the points with a goal in the final minute but the outcome was in the balance until then.

Jordon McLaughlin, Capitals’ third-choice netminder, kept the eager Panthers marksmen at bay in only his second game for the senior side.

He back-stopped bottom club Capitals against Fife Flyers on Hogmanay as a replacement for flu victim Travis Fullarton and the club’s under-20 goaltender was again on duty in the Lace City.

Panthers started well and were 2-0 ahead after 16 minutes when Alex Nikiforuk netted after three minutes and Jeff Brown added another.

Capitals were outshot 16-8 in the first session but the short-benched side never gave up and Ian Schultz scored on a power play after 30 minutes to pull the score back to 2-1.

Brad Moran scored with 48 seconds left of the second session to make it 3-1 in favour of the home side but Pavel Vorobyev netted for Capitals after 48 minutes to make it a nervous finish for the home fans.

Lawrence’s strike ended the contest