Lightning fall at the final hurdle
Old rivals edge to victory
Peterborough Phantoms wrecked Milton Keynes Lightning's hopes of play-off silverware as they completed a clean sweep of all three English Premier League trophies at Coventry Skydome on Sunday.
Lightning were beaten but not disgraced as they went down 5-4 in a game in which Phantoms had the edge for much of the time.
However Lightning got off to a dream start when Gary Clarke fired them ahead from Joakim Wiklander's cross from the left after just 44 seconds.
And for the first 10 minutes the MK side matched their opponents for effort and chances.
But once Craig Peacock had the puck in the net after 11 minutes with an effort ruled out for offside Phantoms smelled blood and it took them only a couple more minutes to equalise.
Joe Miller penalised for roughing Lewis Christie emerged from the sin bin to play a big part in the leveller scored by Maris Ziedins at 13mins 35secs.
James Archer was a little unlucky not to score from an Andre Smulter set up while Lightning had a powerplay with James Morgan called for hooking Joakim Wiklander.
But it was Phantoms who took the lead after Adam Carr was caught holding Joe Miller shortly after.
Craig Peacock supplied the pass for Brent Gough to shoot into the corner of the net on 17mins 45secs.
And while Lightning were still reeling from that blow Peacock helped himself to Phantoms' third only 15 seconds later.
Lightning finished the first session with a man advantage when Lewis Buckman was given two minutes for holding.
With the powerplay spilling over into the second period it took only 32 seconds for Smulter to pounce on a fumbled save by goalie Stephen Wall reduce the deficit to 3-2.
The one goal gap lasted under five minutes with Phantoms capitalising on a powerplay resulting from a delaying the game call on Adam Radmall. James Hutchinson blasted in with goalie Barry Hollyhead getting a skate to the shot but not able to stop it crossing the line.
For the remainder of the period Lightning were on the backfoot as Phantoms took control without scoring again.
It was imperative that Lightning get an early goal at the start of the third session and they did so when Chris McEwen was the provider for Smulter to get the puck through Wall's legs while Phantoms defenceman James Morgan was otherwise engaged trying unsuccessfully to goad Michael Wales into fisticuffs.
That was as good as it got for Lightning though as they were unable to make anything of a powerplay while Peacock was serving time for elbowing Clarke.
And Phantoms wrapped up the game on 53mins 30secs when a well placed Peacock shot gave Hollyhead no chance to make it 5-3.
Lightning shortened their lines to the top two in the final five minutes or so.
And it paid off with Wiklander getting their fourth goal with 50 seconds remaining.
Hollyhead came off for the extra skater in the final 30 seconds or so but Lightning were unable to find a game tying goal to send the encounter into overtime.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
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