The Storm were not spooked by the visiting Fife Flyers, running out 5–1 winners to maintain their impressive league form and return to the summit of the EIHL.
A costly defensive turnover from Fife handed the hosts the opening goal of the game. Canadian marksman Gilmour showed off his silky hands with a lovely backhand–forehand deke in close, finishing neatly in the 5th minute of play. However, the hosts’ lead quickly evaporated as Fife converted on their first power play of the night. Club captain Hunt was afforded too much time and space in the zone, and the experienced forward finished well over DeRidder. A fortuitous bobble of the puck restored the Storm’s one-goal advantage, with Johnson showing excellent awareness to pounce on the loose puck and send Manchester into the intermission 2–1 ahead.
The middle twenty minutes were played in relative parity, with both sides largely cancelling each other out before many clear scoring chances were created. One notable moment came when Owen produced a tremendous windmilling glove save to deny Nardi in the 33rd minute. Moments later, Somoza had a glorious shorthanded opportunity but couldn’t quite turn the puck into the empty net at the back post.
The hosts doubled their lead early in the final stanza, as Haden teed up Gilmour with a beautiful cross-ice pass on a 2-on-1 break for his second of the night in the 42nd minute. A well-worked Storm power play all but iced the contest as Cutler set up Busby to score at the back door. Just a few minutes later, a defensive mix-up from Fife allowed blueliner Clavelle to skate in unobstructed and fire high over Owen’s glove for his first professional goal.
With less than five minutes to play and a four-goal cushion, the Storm comfortably saw out another deserved league victory.
Words by: Callum Schora
Photo: Mark Ferris