Before the Basingstoke Bison can fully focus on their first leg of the British Knockout Cup on Wednesday night on home ice against the Coventry Blaze. They have the little matter of a trip to the Nottingham Panthers in the Elite League the evening before.

The Herd have five games left to secure the final play-off place up for grabs and will be looking to repeat a superb victory when they were last in the Lace City.

On that occasion, the Bison won the match 3-2 after a tension penalty shoot-out, thanks to Danny Stewart's winner. This after the game had been deadlocked at 2-2 after 65 minutes with Brad Cruikshank and Mikko Purontakanen getting the visitors goals to cancel out Panther strikes from Johan Molin and Kevin Bergin.

Basingstoke netminder Curtis Cruickshank had a great night between pipes turning away 58 of 60 shots and then added a six further penalty saves.

With illness and injuries affecting the Herd, it remains to be seen which players will take to the ice in Nottingham, where the home side will be keen to claw back some pride.

Bison head coach Ryan Aldridge said: "We go to Nottingham looking to get something out of the game. We know it is going to be tough to make the play-offs now, but we have not given up yet."