Lightning edged clear in third place in the English Premier League after taking three points from their encounters with rivals Peterborough Phantoms at the weekend.

After suffering the disappointment of an overtime loss to Phantoms at Planet Ice on Saturday they won the return game 4-3 the following day.

The points were the first Lightning had gained this season against the team many are tipping to win the league title.

On Saturday Lightning had the perfect start when Joakim Wiklander shot past goalie Stephen Wall after only 27 seconds.

Joe Miller equalised for the visitors 31 seconds into the second session. But an Adam Carr goal put the home team back in front on 28m 53s.

Phantoms ran into double penalty trouble in the 30th minute with both Julian Smith and James Morgan sent to the sin bin and Andre Smulter scored on the powerplay at 30m 55s.

Phantoms reduced the deficit at 41m 16s with a Shaun Yardley strike before Callum Fowler levelled at 43m 44s.

In the final 30 seconds Lightning suffered a penalty which proved decisive as the game went into overtime – Lukas Zatopek receiving two minutes for tripping at 59m 30s.

That gave Phantoms a powerplay spilling over into the extra spell with James Hutchinson grabbing the winner at 60m 51s.

There was no such heartbreak the next night at Peterborough when Carr put Lightning ahead after 4m 59s. Nathan Rempel equalised for Phantoms after 7m 24s.

Smulter scored the first of a straight hat-trick of goals at 24m 4s and he then made it 4-1 with goals assisted by Nick Poole and Wales again at 27m 40s and 35m 33s – the latter on the powerplay.

Phantoms then staged a third period fightback with Miller striking after 44m 56s on a powerplay before Rempel got his second on 47m 47s. But Lightning were able to hang on for the win.