Lightning edge EPL Knockout Cup Final first leg
An Adam Carr goal in the final two minutes of the first leg of the English Premier League Knockout Cup Final at Peterborough Phantoms on Tuesday gave Milton Keynes Lightning the edge going into the second leg tomorrow (Thursday).
Lightning start the match at Planet Ice 3-2 ahead with a real chance of their first piece of silverware if they can repeat the form which saw them outplay the Phantoms for long periods.
In one of their best displays in recent times Lightning were handed a powerplay chance when Adam Reynolds was penalised for holding at 15mins 39secs. And it took them just over half a minute to capitalise when Mikko Skinnari set up man of the match Greg Randall to fire past goalie Stephen Wall on 16mins 13secs.
Rocked by the goal, Phantoms quickly conceded a second at even strength when Carr was the provider for Toni Alasaarela to put Lightning 2-0 ahead on 16mins 48secs.
Lightning continued to control the game in the second period -outshooting the hosts 17-10 - but they failed to add to their score. However they went close midway through the session when Alasaarela appeared to have found the net – but referee Joy Tottman ruled the effort no goal.
Many fans feared the worst at the start of the third period – especially in the light of recent form when Lightning have conceded games in the final 20 minutes.
And their worries increased when Phantoms drew level by the 43rd minute. Brent Gough netted a penalty shot at 42mins 9secs after Lightning goalie Barry Hollyhead threw his stick in an attempt to impede Reynolds who was clear on goal.
Just 32 seconds later James Morgan sent Joe Miller away – Miller's first shot rebounded off Hollyhead for him to follow up and equalise.
But Lightning refused to crumple as they again had the better of the shots on goal – 13-6 in their favour in the final session.
And they were finally rewarded with what may prove a vital goal when Nick Poole was provider for Carr to fire in with 1min 21secs remaining.
Face off tomorrow at Planet Ice on the Leisure Plaza is at 7.45pm.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
