Another intense workout for AIB MK Lightning as they headed to Peterborough for the second and final pre-season warmup game, before the start of regular season fixtures next weekend.
The game opened with a perfectly observed 2 minutes silence from the Phantoms and Lightning fans, and the action got underway on the ice with some early end to end action without either side threatening the other.
Phantoms went on the powerplay after Ross Green got 2 mins for a cross check. The PP forced a couple of saves from Smital, but no serious chances. Phantoms gave up the man advantage with a faceoff violation but Lightning could not break through. It was the same story when Phantoms received a bench minor for too many men at 9:48, with a somewhat scrappy PP from the MKL team.
Lightning’s first goal came at 12:20 when Zaine McKenzie got on the end of a Rio Grinnel-Parke pass, who was fed by Mack Stewart, and managed to bobble it over Bainborough into the Phantoms net.
Following this, Sladkovsky and Mitchell-King were combining well and applying pressure to the MKL net, and there was a narrow escape wheƒGrn Padelek missed a golden opportunity in front of an open net at 15:30, but his shot was blocked. The first period ended 0-1.
Early in the second period MKL doubled their lead with Rio Grinnel-Parke slotting home from Halden Barnes-Garner and Milique Martelly at 22:20. Soon after this, Griffin headed to the box for a cross check after Foster had gotten under his skin. This led to a decent powerplay and Cirencis hit a low one timer to open up Phantoms’ account at 26:13. This was followed by Hunt at 27:02 drawing Phantoms level.
The game opened up a little at this point, and Liam Stewart broke through on the Phantoms’ net and put MKL ahead again at 27:55. Around halfway through the game Griffin got 2 for elbows but Phantoms could not convert the PP. By this point though, Peterborough were pressing well, and hunting in packs to close down Lightning’s most dangerous threats in the neutral zone. The second period ended 2-3.
In the third period at 45:12, a moment of magic from Tyler Nixon saw him break down the left, beat two players and finish beautifully to make it 2-4. After this Zaine McKenzie went close and Tim Wallace hit the metal work in a spell which saw Lightning working hard and battling for every puck.
Things changed though with around 4 mins to go, when Smital made a pad save but Sladkovsky picked up the rebound and slotted home to make it 3-4. Quickly after, Mitchell-King equalised with a pass from behind the goal which ricocheted off Smital’s skate into the net. 4-4 with 90 seconds left.
With the game tied after regulation it was overtime, with Lightning looking by far the more comfortable team. After some energetic passing and attacking presses, Knaggs provided Chamberlain with a one timer opportunity which he took advantage of to take the win.
Man of the Match: Matt Smital
