BASINGSTOKE, UK – The magic scoreline proved to be 3-2 this weekend for the Bison player-coach Steve Moria.
Having seen his Herd complete a four point weekend courtesy of two victories by that margin. The native from Vancouver was also delighted as 3-2 proved to be the winning scoreline as Canada won the gold medal in the Winter Olympics on Sunday night in his home town.
Earlier that same evening at IceSheffield, Moria scored in a Bison win. Their first this season in Yorkshire and with the Manchester Phoenix losing it finally moved Basingstoke into fourth spot in the English Premier League.
The match on Sunday night against the Scimitars had seen the home side score first from Peter Slamiar, only for Ollie Bronnimann to tie the match before the second hooter.
The Bison, thanks to Moria with a powerplay strike, grabbed the lead six minutes into the final session only for Stuart Brittle to level the game once more.
It was left to Herd captain Nicky Chinn to complete a three goal weekend to hit the game winner in the final two minutes.
The previous night the Bison were taken to overtime by bottom side Romford Raiders, before Moria scored the game winner with a tip from a Mindy Kieras shot.
The winning goal was always going to be ugly as Charles Kaylor produced a super human performance as he faced 73 shots which included six in the three minutes of overtime. Tom Annetts in the Bison goal had to deal with just 22.
Romford came with a game plan and just two lines and struck to it throughout the game and deserved something from the game.
Giant defenceman Jozef Sladok was a rock at the back as was David Oliver as the Herd piled on the pressure from the opening face-off. At the first break they only had one goal to show for it from Chinn and then Romford tied the game up in the second as good spade work from Darius Pliskauskas set-up an easy tap in Dallas Constanzo.
After the Bison broke the deadlock again thanks to a super solo strike from Chinn, it was left to Pliskauskas to send the game into overtime. The Bison continued to dominate and grabbed the OT winner at 62:53.
“They came and played five man along the red line so making it very difficult for us. We needed to open up the game early on with two or three goals.
“They went in 1-0 down at the end of the first and would have felt it was a job well done. In the end we have come away with the win that keeps our run at home going,” said Moria.
The victory made it 11 straight home league victories, but the Bison face their stiffest test yet on Wednesday when the EPL leaders Milton Keynes Lightning are in town.
However, confidence will be high in the camp as the Sheffield win took their winning streak home and away to seven games.
The big games are now coming thick and fast as on Saturday they face second spot Slough Jets at home and then on Sunday they head to the Hive for their final game with the Bracknell Bees looking for the club’s first ever six game season sweep over their local rivals.
Contact the author Graham.Merry@Prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.