Otto Nieminen slotted 33 seconds into overtime for Nottingham Panthers to deny Fife Flyers in a basement battle in the Midlands.
The Scots, who were outshot 40-20, were always behind in the game and the Fifers had the worst possible start, going 1-0 down after only 2min 54sec.
Panthers kept Fife scoreless until the 46th minute. The home side edged ahead for a second time less than four minutes later but back came Flyers and they equalised with less than eight minutes remaining.Â
The point earned by Fife after being level at the end of regulation time takes them on to 35 from 41 fixtures. They are ninth and Panthers still prop up the ten-strong table with 31 points but from only 36 games.
It was the second time in 24-hours that Fife suffered disappointment. Cardiff Devils were 3-0 down to coach Tom Coolen’s men after 33 minutes at Kirkcaldy on Saturday.
But Devils, who are second in the standings, powered back with goals after 35, 38 and 44 minutes to level at 3-3.
Flyers scored through Drake Pilon for 4-3 with less than ten minutes left but they were pegged back by Devils after 54min 53sec.
The sides could not be separated by the end of normal time and even after a period of sudden death overtime, but Cole Sanford scored the game-winner in a shootout leaving Fife with one point from a game in which they were outshot 52-41.
Scores: Sunday: Elite League: Nottingham 3, Fife 2 (after overtime); Belfast 3, Manchester 0; Dundee 3, Cardiff 6; Guildford 2, Sheffield, the league leaders, 4.
PICTURE: Action by Jillian MacFarlane as Fife home in on the Cardiff net at Kirkcaldy. Courtesy of the Elite League
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