Fife Flyers have a mountain to climb if they are to progress past the Challenge Cup quarter-final after being mauled at Kirkcaldy in the first-leg last night by Nottingham Panthers.
The five-time winners skated to a 7-2 victory courtesy of doubles from Brandon Benedict, Robert Farmer and Bruce Graham, with Steven Lee assisting on three of the goals.
Flyers scorers were Bobby Chaumont and Matt Reber and the home side’s nightmare was compounded when they learned that defenceman Matt Nickerson has been suspended for four games.
The American was thrown out for fighting after three minutes in the third period of Saturday’s home Elite League defeat by Sheffield Steelers.
The department of player safety reviewed the incident and said Nickerson skated from distance to join an altercation which he was not involved in.
They added: “He then punched the head of Cullen Eddy while the Sheffield player was on the ice.
“Nickerson joined further altercations with Steelers players and continued to throw multiple punches while being restrained by the officials.”
