It may have been a warm up for Sunday nights Challenge Cup Final 1st leg between the two teams but this was still a vital game in it's own right, especially for Panthers as they chase the league crown but following this shootout loss their hopes are now hanging by a thread as they quickly run out of games.

Panthers are now four points behind leaders Coventry, who have a game in hand and Panthers have only seven games left in the league schedule.

It's all positivity out of the Welsh camp however as they extend their winning streak to a seasons best six games and on their home ice must be favoured to take an advantage in the 1st leg Challenge Cup tie tomorrow.

Devils were in charge in the opening session as they built a two-goal advantage. The opening strike came from Max Birbraer (24th) at 5.07 and that was added to at 13.51 when Mark Smith (21st) scored on the powerplay.

Both sides kept it very tight in the second period and could only muster 14 shots between them in a scoreless session but Panthers then came on strong in the third period as they saw their chances of league success slipping away. It took until 49.51 to make the breakthrough but the goal from Bruce Richardson (14th) gave the home side renewed momentum and that carried on to a game tying goal from David Clarke (34th) at 54.31.

No more scoring in the remainder of the 60 minutes or indeed the overtime period but in the shootout it was Devils who prevailed with Wes Jarvis firing home the game winning shot.  

Period Scores: 0-2, 0-0, 2-0, 0-0, (1-2)

Penalty Mins: Not 10 - Car 16

Powerplay: Not 0/8 - Car 1/5

Shots On: Kevin St Pierre 32 - Stevie Lyle 33

Referee: Andy Carson