Leeds Knights 9-1 Milton Keynes Lightning
Sunday 2nd April
By Jamie Bartholomew
After securing 2nd spot on Saturday night, Lightning travelled up to the Castle at Elland Road to finish the league season at the champions Leeds Knights still smarting from only their 5th regulation loss of the season on the Saturday night.
Another good crowd of around 2,000 at the Castle saw Leeds like the night get out of the traps much faster than the Lightning as the Knights opened up a 4 goal lead at 15:38 with goals from Adam Barnes and Jake Witkowski plus two powerplays goals from Matthew Haywood, one after Lewis Christie had been called for hooking and a bench minor against the Lightning for too many men.
In the 2nd, Lightning stopped the shutout when Deivids Sarkanis picked up his 34th goal of the season with assist to Tim Wallace and Lewis Christie at 21:12. The point for Wallace meant that Tim broke the 90 point barrier this season (23+67). However, Leeds restored their 4 goal lead by period end through Kieran Brown 120th point of the season and his 56th goal of the season from Cole Shudra and Lewis Baldwin.
In the 3rd it was a precession for the Knights against a Lightning team who know the game was up and started thinking about next weekend play off quarter final. Cole Shudra scored his 50th goal of the season to make 6-1. Further goals from Mac Howlett and 2nd for Brown on the PP made it 8-1 before Haywood with his hat trick on the night and 42nd goal of the season pass Dan Crowe who replaced Jordan Hedley in net.
Throughout out this though the MKL barmy army were still loud and proud and having fun although there was not a lot to smile about on the ice.
The results from elsewhere means that the Lightning will face the Telford Tigers in next week play off quarter final. The 1st leg will be at Milton Keynes Arena Saturday night (8th) due to the Arena hosting the NIHL South 1 Play off weekend on the Easter Sunday and Monday between favourites Streatham Redhawks, Solent Devils, Invicta Dynamos and the Romford Junior Raiders. The face off for the 1st leg is the usual Saturday night face off at 7pm, tickets are now available on Lightning and Planet Ice websites. The 2nd leg in Shropshire will take place on the Sunday with a 6pm face off at Telford Ice Rink.
Stats   Â
Powerplays
LEE 3/4
MKL 0/2
Penalty Minutes
LEE: 4
MKL: 8
Shots on Goal
                                1st        2nd     3rd      Total
On Gospel                5          5        8        18 (94.44 SVS)
On Hedley               18         13      4        35 (77.14 SVS)
On Crowe                                         6          6 (83.33 SVS)
Referee’s: Joe Sewell and David Good
Assistants: Faye Andrews and Stewart Smith
Attendance: 2,000 (Approx)
