Penalties hit Lightning hopes yet again
Flames bag win in shoot out
The curse of the penalty shoot out hit Milton Keynes Lightning again on Saturday as they lost out 4-3 to Guildford Flames at Planet Ice.
And Lightning's hopes of finishing second in the league took a further dip on Sunday with a 5-3 defeat at Romford Raiders.
The loss against Raiders raised the spectre of Lightning facing them in the quarter finals of the play-offs in two weeks' time.
That would probably be the scenario if Lightning fail to take at least two points – possibly three – from their remaining league games against Peterborough Phantoms and Wightlink Raiders next weekend and slip to third spot in the table.
It would not be a prospect to relish with Romford the form team of the past couple of months following the appointment as coach of Jesse Hammill.
Lightning would probably fancy their chances more against Sheffield Scimitars whose form has been erratic all season.
The city side have won just one game in penalty shoot outs this season while losing four in this way.
On Saturday Lightning got off to a great start with Joakim Wiklander passing from behind the net to find Adam Carr who dummied the netminder, Joe Watkins, before slotting in at 2mins 48secs.
The hosts were on top during a first period which saw Flames struggling to break through even when they had powerplays Adam Radmall, Lewis Christie and Wiklander all having spells in the sin bin.
However Lightning were unable to add to their tally when Andre Smulter and Michael Wales broke away on a great attack in the 16th minute and the score remained 1-0 at the first break.
Lightning stretched their lead to two after Neil Liddiard was penalised for slashing Grant McPherson at 29mins 54secs – James Archer's shot hitting the roof of the net and coming out again at 31mins 53secs.
But almost immediately Flames reduced the gap again when Nick Cross set up Stephen Lee for a shot from just inside the blue line at 33mins 35secs which goalie Barry Hollyhead failed to reach.
Hollyhead made a fine stop from Lukas Smital just seconds before the same player equalised straight from a face off to the right of goal. Hollyhead blocked the effort but the force took the puck over the line.
However it was Lightning still held a one goal advantage going into the second break with Andre Smulter somehow getting the puck between Watkins' legs at 38mins 57secs while Flames' coach Paul Dixon was in the penalty box.
The visitors came out for the third session on fire and it took them just 2mins 27secs to tie things up again – thanks to Greg Randall's hesitancy. Randall seemed to have control of the puck in front of goal but it was snatched away from him and planted beyond Hollyhead by Cross.
Guildford called a time-out with 1min 25secs remaining but there were no more goals in regulation time or overtime. It was therefore down to penalty shots with Martin Bout scoring for Flames only for Wiklander to have his shot saved.
Hollyhead then saved Committal's effort before Carr netted for Lightning. Taras Foremsky then score with Lightning succumbing as Smulter's penalty was saved.
On Sunday Danny Marshall was set up by Scott McKenzie as Lightning found themselves a goal behind after only 1min 58secs at Romford.
Despite outshooting Raiders in the first period it was not until 29 seconds into the second session that Wiklander was able to provide Gary Clarke with the pass to equalise.
But the joy was short-lived with Raiders immediately going back in front at 21mins 39secs through a Matt Turner goal assisted by Danny right thanks to some sloppy defending by Lightning.
Just over four minutes later at 25mins 41secs it was 3-1 to the home side as Andre Sporina set up Shaun Wallis for a powerplay strike.
But Lightning were not finished and Smulter got them back in the game from a Nick Poole set up at 33mins 1secs.
It was all square at the second break with Wiklander the provider for Lukas Zatopek to score at 37mins 15secs.
Sporina gave Romford the lead again on a powerplay at 46mins 42secs and Lightning were unable to claw their way back from that.
Hollyhead was withdrawn for the extra skater in the final stages. It was a move which backfired with Darren Cotton sealing the result with an empty net goal at 59mins 49secs.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 5 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
