Bees sink Jets with late winner

A bench penalty in the closing moments nearly cost the Bees, but a stern defensive performance allowed the home side to hang on for another impressive win. Bees netminder Carl Ambler said: ” It felt great to get the win over the Jets, even more so for me after the last time we played them and I let that howler in to give them the win.” Last year, the Bees nearly beat Slough, but a late mistake by Ambler cost his team. However, Ambler was in fine form, making 32 saves to give the Bees a second consecutive home win.

The game started slowly as the Slough Jets forced several early saves from Ambler. The Bees were finding scoring chances hard to come by, and the visitors took the lead when Ambler was finally beaten by Dan Davies from close range.

Ambler was called into action on several occasions in a first period dominated by the Jets. The Bees started the second period with a power play, and their momentum allowed them to turn the game.

The Jets had several opportunities to extend their lead, but some solid defence allowed Bracknell to kill the static Slough power play. Jaroslav Cesky was unlucky not to score after a great solo run as the Bees searched for their opening goal.

The Bees finally got on the board with a power play goal. Michal Pinc slammed the puck home from close range after a quick break from Peter Jasik to tie up the scores.

Slough were on the back foot, and the Bees offense lines were connecting well. Nicky Watt was unlucky not to score after a mazy solo effort, as the Bees tried to take the lead for the first time.

The Bees’ hard work finally paid off as they controversially took the lead. Nicky Watt’s shot struck the iron and was cleared by the Jets defence. However, referee Nigel Boniface ruled the puck had crossed the line. Two quick goals had turned the game in favour of the Bees.

The Jets didn’t give up, and a penalty taken by Valdemar Pelikovsky allowed Slough straight back into the game. From the resulting power play, Darius Pliskauskas’s shot through traffic found a way into the net to tie up the score once again.

The scores remained tied at the start of a pulsating third period, with both teams playing attacking hockey. The action was end-to-end and the Bees were unlucky not to have an early power play opportunity.

Jets defenceman Jan Krajicek’s shot from the blue-line was blocked by Terry Miles. The Bees skipper tried to follow the puck through to the Slough goal, but was stopped by Kraijicek’s raised arm. However, the officials waved away the Bracknell protests.

Both teams had chances to win the game in the third period, but it was the Bees who scored when it mattered. Great work from James Galazzi and Michal Pinc gave Jasik the chance to scramble the puck home to give the Bees a 3-2 lead with three minutes left.

However, the drama wasn’t quite over. Slough piled on the pressure and Bracknell took a penalty for too many men on the ice with just over a minute left on the clock. Ambler made several vital saves through traffic to ensure the Bees hung onto the win. Ambler added: ” I wasn’t thinking about my nerves to be honest as I didn’t really have time to. I just foucsed on the puck.”

The Bees recorded their second straight home win to close the gap on the playoff places as they look to move off the foot of the table. Contact the author david.bol@prohockeynews.com