SWINDON, UK – In this week’s press Jets’ coach Pete Russell, following losses to Swindon and Basingstoke, which just about finished their chances of snatching the title from the Lightning who lead by eight points with just four games left said it was ‘a massive wake-up call for everyone because if we play like that again we won’t get any success.’ He got that right!
And following the weekend trumping by the Phoenix, the Bees boss Claude Dumas said, ‘We are still in control.’ No doubt with his eye still on that last playoff spot. And then, about the upcoming clash with the Flames: ’They have lost their last four games and you can’t just click your fingers and everything is good again – they must be doubting themselves and we have to take advantage of that.’
And then came the EPL Cup fist leg final!!!!
The Flames charged into the first period with volley after volley against Lightning netminder Alex Mettam, ending with a 16-4 difference in shots, but no goals. But the battering paid off and a goalless first was soon changed four minutes into the second. Milos Melicherick opened the floodgates and seconds later Lukas Smital added one. Ten minutes later Tom Duggan made it 3 followed by Smital again and Martin Masa. Although Matt Towalski added one for the Lightning minutes before the end of the period, it really was all over with the Flames in such blistering form. Jez Lundin re-established the five-goal lead on the powerplay half way through the third, perhaps surprisingly the only goal scored under seven such advantages. At the end there was a ten-point difference in shots on goal against the Lightening, and not many can do that, which just about summed up the game.
Mid-week the Phoenix were beaten by the Phantoms ending a 4-game return to form. The Manchester team took the lead in the second period and then the Phantoms levelled grabbing the winner five minutes from the end. In a last ditch effort the Phoenix thought they had levelled, but the ref ruled the puck crossed the line after the buzzer.
Saturday’s games were, well, pretty much as expected, to be honest. No surprises really although the Wildcats put up a spirited fight at Milton Keynes and although losing it should be remembered they have twice forced games in overtime and their two points are as good as any other teams bar Manchester and Slough, and only the Jets have had fewer goals scored against them by the Lightning. To the Wildcats’ relief the Bees lost to Guildford meaning the eighth playoff place is still up for grabs. But, I don’t suppose the Lightning care as the win gave them a record eleven home game run and the league championship in front of their home crowd.
Basingstoke Bison kept their third place hopes alive with an easy victory over visiting Phantoms in a game that saw Phantoms’ Callum Fowler ejected for upsetting the ref, Bison’s Tom Long for spearing, and a hat-trick from Ondrej Lauko. Tony Redmond(GBR), the Bison defenseman, set a club record of 400 appearances having returned to the Herd from Slough for his forth spell with the club this season after making his debut with the Bison in 1992.
Sunday and what a contrast to the previous evening. Milton Keynes must have fielded a team still intoxicated from winning the championship on Saturday because not only did they lose, but did it in style with the Jets inflicting an 11-1 annihilation. Needless to say this was a record defeat for the Lightning outstripping their previous worst result of 8 – 2 by the, oh yes, Jets in their first encounter.
And there’s more! The Wildcats took the points at Sheffield making it eleven points in eight games, their best run of the season, but more importantly sticking two more valuable points in the playoff bag. The Bees went down in a cracking game against the Flames, in which they went into the first break a goal up. The second period saw a four-goal, four-minute burst from the Flames which was suddenly 6-1, but the Bees fought back finally going down 6 to 8. This means there are now two points of clear air between them and the Wildcats, so that eighth playoff place is going to the wire.
The Bison’s hopes of finishing third are still alive after a four-point weekend against the Phantoms, although the Phoenix will have something to say about that after a similar weekend against Romford and Sheffield making it six wins from seven games.
The league table, when the dust settled by Sunday night, didn’t look a great deal different other than the Wildcats have now leapt those two points clear of the Bees, so no longer are the two teams separated merely by goal difference. While the championship may have been decided, and even the second place going to Slough, the third is still up for grabs.
For more EPL facts, figures and news try my website – www.iceman-epl.com
Contact: bill.collins@prohockeynews.com
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