Braehead Clan netminder Travis Fullerton says his team felt good – despite losing their Elite Challenge Cup quarter-final first leg last week.

The Glasgow side trailed 4-0, but fought back to get within a goal deficit in a 5-4 loss to Nottingham Panthers.

Fullerton says Clan aren’t out of it yet as they get ready to face Panthers again for a place in the last four.

He said: “No-one was happy after that first period, but the coach was still positive that we could claw it back. It was a far from an ideal situation for us.

“We came out a little flat and after that, the mindset was all about trying to make it close for when we bring the tie here.

“We didn’t panic and the two goals we got in the third period puts a big difference on the tie. We could have folded the tent when Nottingham scored to make it 5-2.

“We felt pretty good leaving the rink, even though we lost the game and it’s given us something to aim for on Wednesday. As a team were very much in the tie and we want to use the home ice to our advantage.”

Fullerton has impressed since arriving at the club just before New Year, answering an SOS following injury to regular starting goalie Chris Holt.

But with Holt just a matter of days from returning to action, speculation is rife over whether Head Coach Ryan Finnerty will keep either Fullerton or Holt.

The new man is happy to fill in short term and while he admits he’d like to stay for the rest of the season, he’s not thinking too far ahead.

He added: “When I came I didn’t have a whole lot of expectations about my own position with the team – I’ve just played hockey when needed.

“I’d like to stay until the end of the season, but it’s not something I think about all too much. If we keep winning, things can be that little easier and hopefully we keep our run going.

“As a goaltender, only one person can play and that decision is in the hands of someone else. All I can do is play to my best and do my job until I’m told otherwise.”

(Image permission: Al Goold Photo)