GUILLAUME Doucet marked his Nottingham Panthers debut with a goal as they thrashed Sheffield Steelers for the second time in a row at the Motorpoint Arena.
Panthers, who won 4-0 on Boxing Day, were 4-1 winners this time as they first silenced the home crowd, then had them booing the hosts off before they clapped the victors back on for the third period in appreciation of their dominant display.
Former Hull Stingrays forward Doucet opened the scoring before Cody Wild, Bruce Graham and Brandon Benedict put them four up. Mathieu Roy pulled one back for the hosts.
There was no Craig Kowalski for Panthers as Mattias Modig started in goal and centre Max Parent was restored to the line-up.
The game got off to a stagnant start as Panthers saw plenty of the puck. It was not until 9.10 when the Steelers thought they had scored that it came to life.
They forced the puck in after an almighty scramble in front but the goal was ruled out for a man in the crease.
Steelers pressed from a power play after ten minutes with Modig saving from Cullen Eddy and Ben O'Connor, while Evan Mosey was superbly denied by Frank Doyle on a shorthanded breakaway.
Doyle then saved well from Chris Lawrence and Doucet, but there was no denying the new boy a goal when he opened the scoring after 12.36, tipping in Robert Farmer's shot.
Modig made a sharp glove save from Roy before the visitors went two up with a goal that will delight coach Corey Neilson but surely infuriate opposite number Gerad Adams.
Graham did well behind the goal to feed the puck in front and defenceman Wild skated in unmarked to slot all too easily past an exposed Doyle after 17.07.
Steelers looked to get back into it in the second period but they were outplayed as Panthers stretched their lead to four.
Farmer did all the hard work on a breakaway after 31 minutes but then lifted his finish over the top. Sheffield hung Doyle out to dry after 34.40 when they left Graham unmarked during a spell of four on four.
He was found by Wild and pulled a move on Doyle before slotting home neatly after 34.40. There were 23 seconds left in the period when Panthers went four up.
Greg Jacina raced down the right wing and played in Benedict to score at the back post – 4-0 and Sheffield were soon booed off at the second intermission.
Modig made a brilliant save from Eddy with his trailing leg early in the third before Steelers fans chanted for Sheffield Wednesday after they beat Nottingham Forest earlier in the day.
Roy missed an incredible chance as Steve Lee cleared off the line with the goal gaping, but he tipped in an O'Connor shot with 8.46 to go to make it 4-1 on the power play.
Modig made a good save from Jonathan Phillips with three minutes to go and the Tyler Mosienko a minute later as Panthers won comfortably.
