GUILDFORD, UK – The Flames roundup this week starts with Bees boss Claude Dumas who, following Sunday’s dismantling by the Phoenix – which did nothing to enhance their hope for the playoff eighth place – said in the local paper, ‘We are still in control’ Of course, at the time he was also thinking 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’
Ah hem! Then came the EPL Cup first 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 period was soon history four minutes into the second; Milos Melicherick opened the floodgates and seconds later Lukas Smital added another. 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, with the first leg of the final secured at 6-1, 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.
Saturday’s game went pretty much as expected to be honest, with the visiting Bees extracting no advantage as hoped from the recent run of bad form and thoughts of the mid-week Nathan Rempel opened the scoring after ten minutes and although Lubomir Hurtaj added another a minute later, Adam Bicknell pulled one back for the Bees before the first break, but by the end of the second it was all over with the Flames at a five-goal advantage.
Sunday and the Flames travelled to Bracknell for what turned out to be a much more thrilling rematch. The Bees went into the first break a goal up from Andrius Kaminskas but the second period saw a four-goal – four minute burst opening with Jez Lundin on the power play and it was 6-1 by the end of the second. But the Bees fought back in a thrilling third period, including two goals from Michal Pinc, which for a while looked as though it just might end in tears, but by the final buzzer it was the Flames who came out on top 8 to 6.
As it turned out the four-point weekend didn’t do much for the league positions because third place rivals Manchester and Basingstoke also bagged two brace apiece. So the race is still on.
For more EPL facts, figures and news try my website – www.iceman-epl.com
Contact: bill.collins@prohockeynews.com
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