BASINGSTOKE, UK – The Bison’s dreams of winning their first silverware since 2000 are still very much alive, but they will have to do it the hard way and win in Slough later this month by two goals to win the EPL Cup.
This does not faze the Herd as it is exactly what they did in the semi-final of the competition when they knocked Manchester Phoenix.
The first leg on home ice did not get off to a great start for the Bison as they fell behind after just 10 seconds to a goal from Adam Calder.
The visitors had the upper hand in the opening 20 minutes, but thanks to goalie Dean Skinns, Basingstoke remained in the contest.
No goals followed in the second, but Bison’s Ondrej Lauko was unlucky not to score as his shot rang off the crossbar on the powerplay.
Basingstoke equalised early in the final period as Steve Moria netted a rebound from a Viktor Kubenko shot, but 16 seconds later Slough made it 2-1 as Darius Pliskauskas rifled into the roof of the net.
The Jets then made it 3-1 on the powerplay thanks to Paddy Ward’s blue line strike.
This time it was the Bison who replied quickly as good work from Ciaran Long set-up a chance for Lauko to score.
Slough’s Calder then pinged the pipework as did Lauko as the game ended 3-2.
It was a defeat, but it was good to see the Herd stop the goal avalanche that they suffered at the weekend when they shipped seven goals in the both their games.
On Saturday night, Joe Henry took just seven seconds to beat Tom Annetts and then Scott McKenzie added a second.
So for the second game on trot against Telford the Bison had to haul themselves back into the contest which they did as Ben Davies and then Daniel Lackey with his first ever Bison goal scored.
This was the first game back for 20-year-old after a long term ankle injury and it was nice to see a hometown player open his account.
That was as good as it got for the home side as Luke Brittle gave his side a deserved lead at the break and then Henry made it 4-2.
Moria pulled one back shorthanded to keep the game alive going into the final period.
Jack Watkins restored his side’s two goal lead, before Moria struck, but the Tigers were not to be denied their best road win of the season as Andrejs Maslovskis and man-of-the-match Henry completed his hat-trick for a 7-4 win.
“We were defensively terrible all over the ice tonight. We were beaten by a team that out worked us,” said player/coach Moria.
On Sunday night in Guildford the Bison looked on their way to victory as Moria and Lauko made the score 6-4 with three minutes left.
However, the Flames burnt their local rivals as Martin Masa, Lucas Smital and then Milos Melicherik with the overtime winner at 62:25 won the game.
Earlier in the contest, the Bison got off to a super start as Mindy Kieras scored after 24 seconds.
Guildford’s Masa levelled, but Ollie Bronnimann gave Basingstoke the advantage at the first break.
The home side’s Smital scored twice in the space of 39 seconds to edge his side in front.
The Bison retook the lead with two goals in the space of 18 seconds from Chris Wiggins and Ben Davies.
Jez Lundin equalised and then the Bison thought they had won but Guildford’s late show saw them home.
“We were disappointed to lose as I felt we played really well and it surprised me how open Guildford played,” said Moria.
The Flames for the first time this season iced their four import forwards against the Bison and are likely to do the same again when the side’s meet in Basingstoke on Saturday.
The Herd beat their Surrey rivals when last in town and would love to do it again and end a run of four straight losses at home.
The Herd will probably be minus captain Nicky Chinn due to a leg injury, with Tony Redmond looking set to take his place alongside Bronnimann and Lauko.
On Sunday night, the Herd are expecting a back lash from Manchester, who were beaten in that famous cup semi-final triumph last time in Altrincham.
“I expect they will be out to prove a point this Sunday, so I am expecting a very tough game, said Moria.
Contact the author Graham.Merry@Prohockeynews.com
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