Scimitars cut down with scintillating display
But Lightning disappoint against Romford
Is there a jinx on Planet Ice? That's what some Milton Keynes Lightning fans must be wondering after the team slipped to a 4-3 overtime loss against lowly Romford Raiders on Saturday.
It was Lightning's fifth home defeat of the season – one more loss than the side has had away from home.
And for the second weekend in a row Lightning experienced in a big turn around in fortunes when they took a 5-0 lead at Sheffield Scimitars on Sunday before eventually winning 5-2.
On Saturday's performance could only be described as poor with a lack of creativity and spark in front of the Romford goal – despite the 59 shots to the visitors' 22.
At times it looked as though Lightning were in awe of Raiders' new defenceman signing, Jan Krajicek, who commanded not only the blueline but the shape of his team's game.
It was perhaps signifcant that the hosts' first goal came while Krajicek was off the ice for a prolonged period, receiving treatment to a shoulder injury.
Almost as soon as Krajicek was hurt the pace of Lightning's game seemed to increase and Gary Clarke supplied James Archer for the team's first goal on a delayed penalty at 31mins 32secs.
By that stage Romford were already a goal in front – scored on the powerplay at 10mins 29secs through the lively import Andrej Sporina while Nick Poole was serving time for interference.
While Lightning outshot Romford 16-8 in the first period too many of the efforts were straight at goalie Carl Ambler with no one able to open up the Essex outfit's back line sufficiently to create real scoring opportunities.
Hopes that Lightning's equaliser would produce a turn around were soon dashed as sloppy defending allowed Scott McKenzie to set up Darren Cotton to put Raiders back in front within a minute at 32mins 21secs.
Matt Towalski then robbed Krajicek of the puck but was unable to beat the goalie before Romford fired in their third goal through McKenzie at 35mins 1secs – Ales Parez unable to stop the puck throwing himself down on the goal line after netminder Barry Hollyhead had inexplicably gone walkabout.
Lightning – already missing Adam Radmall and Lewis Christie – with forward Adam Carr playing in defence - suffered a further injury blow in the third session when Towalski received a bad cut to the face from a stray puck.
He returned to the game after treatment and that – plus the non stop chanting of Lightning fans – lifted the side to reduced the gap with a long range Greg Randall goal on 55mins 30secs.
Krajicek was penalised for hooking James Archer and this gave Lightning the chance to equalise at 57mins 45secs through a blueline rocket shot from Lukas Zatopek to send the game into overtime.
But Lightning's hopes of a win were dashed when Danny Marshall grabbed the overtime clincher for Romford just 35 seconds into the extra period – in truth just reward for the visitors.
The following day Lightning raced into a 5-0 second break lead at Sheffield before the home side hit back with two third period strikes.
The travelling fans could hardly believe their eyes when Lightning took a 2-0 lead by the 13th minute – thanks in part to a five plus game penalty on Ben Morgan for an accidental high stick which drew blood.
On the resulting powerplay Archer gave Lightning the lead at 11mins 11secs and Towalski, playing with a face cage, doubled the advantage, lifting the puck over diving goalie Mark Lee at 13mins 4secs.
Two more quick goals from Chris McEwen and then Gary Clarke, set up by Andre Smulter, at 18mins 4secs gave the visitors a comfortable cushion.
Within 27 seconds of the restart Smulter gained a further assist as Clarke struck again to make it 5-0. That prompted a change of netminder by Sheffield with Lee giving way to Paul Jones.
There were no further goals in the period and it took until 45mins 13secs for Sheffield to get their first thanks to Stephen Wallace.
Less than two minutes later at 47mins 3secs Zdenek Sikl made it 5-2 and alarm bells began to ring. However a swift Lightning timeout calmed proceedings and Scimitars were unable to find a way through again.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Milton Keynes
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
