SUNDAY ROUND-UP
SHEFFIELD STEELERS 5 MANCHESTER STORM 7
Manchester’s offensive power came to the fore again on Sunday night, with Ryan Finnerty’s side edging out hosts Sheffield in a 12-goal thriller at the Fly DSA Arena.
Two power play goals in the space of just over two minutes from Mathieu Roy gave Sheffield an early lead through the opening stages of the game, with Joonas Westerling added a third goal for the home side in the 13th minute.
Mike Hammond continued his goal scoring streak to get the Storm on the board before the end of the period however, with Andrew McKinney adding a second goal for the visitors two minutes after the restart.
Sheffield looked to have pulled away again when captain Jonathan Phillips quickly responded for the Steelers before Roy completed his hat trick to make it 5-2.
But a second of the game for Hammond ensured the Storm stayed within touching distance and when Luke Moffatt converted on the power play in the 36th minute it was game on.
Moffatt added a second just 12 seconds into the final frame to level the scores before completing his own hat trick in the 48th minute.
Dane Byers goal midway through the period proved to be the final goal of the game, capping off a great comeback for the Storm who secured a four-point weekend to maintain third place in the Elite League.
NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS 3 DUNDEE STARS 0
Nottingham bounced back from Saturday night’s disappointment to shutout Dundee at the Motorpoint Arena on Sunday, ending the Stars winning streak at five games in the process.
Recent signing Luke Pither continued his excellent run of form by opening the scoring midway through the first period, assisted by Yann Sauve and David Clarke.
The Panthers added a second goal late in the period thanks to Jeff Brown, with Raphael Bussieres and smooth skating Swede Eric Lindhagen collecting assists on the play.
After a goalless second period, Alexander Mokshantsev scored his 11th goal of the season to put the result beyond doubt with eight minutes to play.
Panthers goaltender Patrick Galbraith also finished the game with 19-saves to record his second shutout of the year.
FIFE FLYERS 5 BRAEHEAD CLAN 2
Carlo Finucci’s hat-trick gave Fife Flyers an element of revenge as they claimed the points in a 5-2 win over Braehead Clan at home.
After Saturday’s 3-2 loss in Glasgow, Todd Dutiaume’s side got back on track and got the best possible start as Shayne Stockton got the final touch to put them in front.
Braehead hit back through Ryan Potulny, who poked the puck in from close range as the visitors levelled quickly.
They were soon ahead with Potulny grabbing his second of the night with a tap-in, but the Flyers were far from out of it.
Stockton’s second on the powerplay got them back on level terms in the middle period as they finished off a slick move.
Then Finucci got on the scoresheet with his first as the home side capitalised on some good pressure to put them in front.
He got two more in the final few minutes to turn the tide in Fife’s favour, scoring two within a couple of minutes to keep Todd Dutiaume’s men in fourth at the weekend’s conclusion.
COVENTRY BLAZE 4 GUILDFORD FLAMES 7
A John Dunbar hat trick helped Guildford secure a four-point weekend thanks to a 7-4 win in Coventry on Sunday night.
Dunbar opened the scoring after just over five minutes before combining with Ian Watters to set up Kruise Reddick on the power play three minutes later.
The same duo picked up assists on Jesse Craige’s 14th minute goal before Geoff Walker made it 4-0 three and a half minutes after the restart.
Two goals in the space of just over two minutes helped the Blaze claw their way back into the game, Brett Robinson and Dorian Peca the scorers for the home side, but a short handed effort from Dunbar extended the Flames lead once again.
Coventry captain Jordan Pietrus pulled a goal back for the Blaze in the 31st minute, but any hopes of a third period comeback were dashed when Dunbar completed his hat trick seven minutes into the final frame.
Rhett Rachinski added a seventh for the Flames a little over a minute later, and while Gaelan Patterson scored a fourth for the Blaze late in the period, it proved to be little more than a consolation marker for the West Midlands side, who have now lost seven straight.
EDINBURGH CAPITALS 0 MILTON KEYNES LIGHTNING 3
JIndrich Pacl’s first shutout for Milton Keynes Lightning helped them to a huge win on the road as they blanked Edinburgh Capitals in a 3-0 win.
Three goals – one in each period – gave MK a much-needed victory as they aim for the top eight spots, while the Caps suffered their sixth straight loss.
Pete Russell’s side opened the scoring after 14 minutes when Glenn Billing got his first goal of the season when he fired in from the left side circle.
By the half hour mark, the visitors were up by two as Lewis Hook scored with a wrist shot to make Edinburgh’s task all the more difficult.
Jay King had an effort late in the second that needed Pacl to capture it as the home side threatened to get one back.
The Caps even hit the bar in the final minutes in an attempt to spark some life into their night, but they were eventually killed off late on.
Jonathan Boxill tucked away an empty netter to secure the points for Milton Keynes as they look to climb their way back up the Elite League standings.
PHOTO: Dean Woolley
