Sheffield 2, Panthers 4

NOTTINGHAM Panthers put one foot firmly on the path to the Challenge Cup final with a 4-2 first-leg road victory over arch-enemies Sheffield Steelers.

But on a miserable night that saw less than 3,000 fans brave the elements, they would have found little to cheer in a game that sadly lacked all the passion and emotion of the previous encounters between these sides over the years.

That's taking nothing away from Panthers' performance which was efficient and at times clinical in their finishing, fully appreciated by another good following from Nottingham.

But Sheffield were poor and seemed devoid of ideas, with their movement up the ice apparently reliant on flipping the puck in the air and hoping the right player gets on the end of it.

Their latest signing Mike Sgroi – an out-and-out tough guy who was signed to bring in the fans – was largely anonymous.

But at least he helped set up a thrilling (in the loosest sense of the word) last couple of minutes when he won a penalty shot, duly converted by Jonathan Zion to make it 4-2.

The goal came just 40 seconds after Joey Talbot had broken Kevin St Pierre's shut-out and, if any was needed, served warning that this tie is far from over yet.

But in truth, Panthers never looked like losing once new signing Jay Henderson had got his Panthers' career off the mark with the opening goal after nine minutes.

The win was a welcome change for Henderson, whose previous club, Wichita, lost 20 straight games before he left them three weeks ago.

After stepping off the plane on Monday, he's only had one training session with his new team-mates.

But he showed enough in sparking the move that brought his power-play goal to indicate he can make an impact in Panthers' three-pronged chase for honours.

The game was delayed for 15 minutes because of the weather and the late arrival of Panthers and their fans.

And Sheffield enjoyed the best of the chances in the opening few exchanges.

But then Henderson's burst of speed took him past two static defencemen as he whipped the puck around the boards to Corey Neilson at right point.

The player-coach transferred to Cameron Mann on the opposite side and his pass towards the net was deftly put away by Henderson at the far post.

Forty-five seconds later it was 2-0, with Jade Galbraith setting up Mann in front (10.22).

With Sheffield's confidence at a low ebb, coach Dave Matsos called a time-out to stem the tide.

But their chins were really dragging on the ice when Galbraith won the puck on the blue-line, leaving Marty Gascon free to skate in and score with aplomb on Andrew Verner's short side (18.34).

With St Pierre again in good form whenever Steelers managed to get a shot on him, Panthers still had the chance to increase their lead in the scoreless second period, with Mann, Sean McAslan and Henderson all going close.

But Galbraith was again the provider for goal No.4 at the start of the final period, staying patient behind the net as David Clarke found space to fire home his astute pass (41.25).

The goal brought a chorus of boos from the sparse crowd in the stands.

But after a succession of penalties, Steelers got the break they needed with Talbot having two bites to drill his shot home (57.00).

Zion's penalty-shot second, after Sgroi had been hauled down, was hardly deserved but at least it might put a few more bums on seats for next Wednesday's return at the National Ice Centre.

But one suspects Sheffield can't wait until this season is over.