Lightning on victory trail with pair of wins
Four point weekend lifts team
Victories over Guildford Flames and Sheffield Scimitars put Milton Keynes Lightning's season back on track at the weekend.
The poor start of the previous weekend was put behind them as Lightning overcame reigning league champions Flames with an overtime goal to win 6-5 on Saturday. And on Sunday they gained revenge at Scimitars with a 2-0 win following the 3-2 reverse at Planet Ice.
The city side had to battle hard for both victories. Against Flames they saw a two goal lead evaporate before bouncing back.
Early pressure on the Flames saw Adam Carr test netminder Joe Watkins and Andre Smulter miss a great chance shortly afterwards.
It was man of the match Smulter who set up Gary Clarke for the opening goal on 13mins 11secs, the Finn's shot rebounding to the captain to put away.
That was the only goal of a first period Lightning dominated in terms of shots on goal at 22-7.
Flames put Lightning under intense pressure at the start of the second session but it was Matt Towalski who went closest to scoring early on.
Vinny Zavoral then provided the pass for Flames coach Paul Dixon to score with a high shot into the net at 27mins 43secs.
The hosts were quickly back in front as Carr crossed from the left for James Archer to find a gap beyond Watkins at 29mins 14secs.
Just over a minute later Clarke sent Smulter away up the left and he unleashed a super shot to beat the goalie to make it 3-1.
With just under five minutes of the period remaining Flames reduced the arrears on the powerplay with James Pease penalised for slashing. This time Dixon was the supplier for Lukas Smital with goalie Barry Hollyhead unsighted.
Flames then dealt what seemed to be a hammer blow in making the most of a five on three powerplay as Stephen Lee equalised after 39 minutes.
The visitors then edged ahead in the second minute of the third period thanks to Ollie Bronnimann before, seconds later, Taras Foremsky made it 5-3.
But this Lightning side were in no mood to give up and coach Nick Poole made it 5-4 while the team were shorthanded at 44mins 28secs.
And another great shot from Smulter drew the sides level while Lightning had a powerplay at 46mins 43secs.
With no further goals in regulation time the game went into sudden death four on four overtime. Within 30 seconds Zavoral was called for interference and the home side took full advantage with Clarke snapping up his own rebounding shot to beat Watkins at 61mins 24secs for a 6-5 win.
A day later Lightning came under a lot of pressure in the first period at Sheffield but still went into the break with a one goal advantage after Carr fired them ahead on 12mins 3secs.
The second session proved to be more even with both sides having chances to score but being kept at bay by the respective keepers, Paul Jones for Scimitars and Hollyhead for the visitors.
The points were eventually secured when Clarke and Smulter were able to deke the Scimitars defence, despite an attempted block on the ice by James Goodman, to score at the far post at 55mins 51secs. Jones was then called on to make a further double pad save to prevent a further goal before the end.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
