ELITE SERIES: Manchester Storm take on the Coventry Blaze at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham this Saturday in Elite Series action! Buy the webcast HERE! Face-off is 14:00 Saturday 21st April.

The 10th Elite Series game for Manchester Storm saw them produce arguably their finest performance, as they took a well deserved two points from the Panthers with a 4-2 victory.

The well settled line-up of the Storm saw just one change on the fourth line with Ulrick replacing Gulliver.

A lightning start from Manchester saw Lake neatly deflecting the puck beyond Bowns, after less than two minutes, with the helpers going to Solder and Gran.

A penalty soon after on Christophe Boivin sent the Storm onto the powerplay. However, a turnover at the point from Ehrhardt gifted Betteridge a clear route on-goal, but a great save from Bonar maintained the one-goal advantage for the Storm.

Another turnover, this time at centre ice from the Storm was punished by Perlini at 12:10 when he sent the puck into the roof of the net, Boivin earning himself the helper.

This setback was quickly forgotten when another deflected shot from the point forced Bowns to give a large rebound infront of the net, which Fortier swiftly backhanded at 13:46. T

The see-sawing opening stanza gave Perlini his second of the period, as a low backhand shot somehow found its way beyond Bonar and inside the post of the Storm goal to bring the scores level.

Second period

The opening moments of the middle period were largely dominated by the Storm, with Batch and Long ringing their efforts of post.

A goal for Manchester arrived on the powerplay, as a well worked and sustained attack produced a third goal. A cross-ice pass on the half-boards from Ehrhardt switched the puck to the point and Fawcett’s low slapshot was glanced by Critchlow beyond a hapless Bowns at 31:03.

The remaining nine minutes saw few goal scoring opportunities worked and both blueline groups tightened up their play.

Third period

The final period started in the same manner, as Manchester were camped out in the Panthers end with Lake hitting the post on a fantastic drive to the net.

The relentless pressure eventually paid dividends, as Gran skated down the wing undisturbed and slotted the puck though Bowns’ five-hole with just over four minutes remaining in the match.

Despite a late penalty call on Fortier and netminder pulled, the Panthers couldn’t find a way beyond Bonar and an impressive Storm penalty killing unit.

ELITE SERIES: Manchester Storm take on the Coventry Blaze at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham this Saturday in Elite Series action! Buy the webcast HERE! Face-off is 14:00 Saturday 21st April.