Lightning lost top spot after Pirates pummelling

Lightning vs Telford.Lightning vs Telford.
Lightning vs Telford.
MK Lightning experienced the highs and lows of sport as they were rudely brought crashing down to earth after a magnificent overtime victory against Telford Tigers at MK Arena on Saturday.

Just 24 hours after the 4-3 win which lifted them into clear top spot in the English Premier League they endured a night to forget in a 5-1 defeat at Hull Pirates - losing first place in the table to Tigers in the process.

Local born Leigh Jamieson snatched maximum points against Telford in dramatic style 4.3 seconds from the end of overtime after feigning a slapshot to draw netminder Ondrej Raszka before slotting home.

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It was a different tale on Sunday when three Pirates strikes in the space of just over five second session minutes sunk Lightning.

Lightning vs Telford. Pics: Tony SargentLightning vs Telford. Pics: Tony Sargent
Lightning vs Telford. Pics: Tony Sargent

For both games MK were without influential Mikolaj Lopuski as well as Ed Knaggs – absent due to Great Britain Under 20s duty – and long term injured Jordan Cownie.

Telford had a ‘goal’ ruled out while Sam Jones was penalised for holding in the third minute - referee Stephen Matthews ruling that the puck had been kicked in.

A powerplay chance came the way of Lightning as Sam Oakford was sin binned for holding on 11mins 41secs. Again the short-handed side came under pressure but all MK were able to produce was a fierce Jamieson blast from the left which Raszka blocked.

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MK defended superbly when Lewis Christie was called for a high stick on 15mins 11secs - Telford were kept high with much of the play forced into the neutral zone.

Lightning vs Telford.Lightning vs Telford.
Lightning vs Telford.

With under two minutes remaining Bobby Chamberlain clashed with Doug Clarkson - the Telford man edging the battle as both were sin binned for four minutes for fighting.

Lightning ended the scoreless session a man short - James Griffin sent to the penalty box for delaying the game.

That penalty allowed Telford to open the scoring through Michal Satek away to beat Odrobny on 1mins 13secs into the middle period.

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Lightning to hit back after Corey McEwen was called for holding on 26mins 18secs. Michael Farn unleashed a slapshot from the blue line - Raszka was unable to hold it and Milan Baranyk swept up at 27mins 7secs.

Lightning vs Telford.Lightning vs Telford.
Lightning vs Telford.

Telford’s Jonathan Weaver was then handed a two minute penalty for slashing Baranyk but no goal came of the powerplay.

However back at even strength Blaz Emersic put Lewis Hook away up the left hand side and his razor sharp shot gave the home outfit the lead at 35mins 17secs.

With less than two minutes left on the period Jones and Joe Miller clashed – both receiving four minutes for fighting. Satek followed them into the sin bin for tripping with 23 seconds left on the session.

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Lightning failed to make the most of the powerplay going into the final period and on 43mins 37secs Macauley Heywood levelled for Telford.

Lightning vs Telford. Pics: Tony SargentLightning vs Telford. Pics: Tony Sargent
Lightning vs Telford. Pics: Tony Sargent

With 9mins 43secs left of regulation time MK caused confusion around the Telford net and Bobby Chamberlain put the puck in. Tigers hit back to level again when Weaver smashed the puck towards goal on 56mins 48secs – the final tip in coming from Satek.

That sent the encounter into an overtime period ended by Jamieson’s winner.

The joy was short lived though with the loss at Hull in a game which started badly as the hosts went in front on 3mins 46secs after Frankie Bakrlik penalised for holding –Andrej Themar the scorer.

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Former MK goalie Jordan Marr went on to thwart almost everything fired at him to win the man of the match award for the Humberside outfit.

As the period wore on Lewis Hook and Bakrlik both had attempts blocked by Marr in a period ending 1-0 to the home side.

Pirates doubled their tally on 24mins 10secs –Themar again beating Odrobny.

Lightning vs Telford.Lightning vs Telford.
Lightning vs Telford.

Nathan Salem capitalised 19 seconds later to make it 3-0 before coach Pete Russell called a timeout on 29mins. Instead of benefiting his side it Themar completed his hat-trick only 11 seconds later.

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If there was any doubt about the result then that ended after Pirates were awarded a penalty shot – from which Lee Bonner registered for a 5-0 lead at 34mins 59secs.

Russell’s men eventually got off the mark after Jason Hewitt was given two minutes for slashing 2mins 14secs into the final session –Bakrlik scoring at 43mins 14secs. That was as good as it got for Lightning.

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