Peterborough Islanders (6) vs (4) MK Thunder 

Period Scores: 2-0, 3-4, 1-0

Penalty Mins: Peterborough Islanders – 12 & MK Thunder – 10 

Thunder returned to league action with a difficult road trip to local rivals Peterborough Islanders. Islanders had not lost a game in either league or cup so far this season and are looking favourites to win both competitions, so Thunder knew they were in for a tough game. To make things worse, Thunder were forced to play without either of their imports and also without influential D-man Mike Knights and forward Aidan Mahmud.

The re-shuffled Thunder roster took a long time to get into the game and didn’t really do so until the second period. Islanders on the other hand iced their full four lines and from the first face off applied pressure on Thunder’s defence. Pinned in their own zone for much of the opening period, Thunder looked nervous and chased the puck rather than keeping to the game plan. Islanders had the puck in the net twice in the first two minutes, but luckily for Thunder, both were washed out by the referee. The luck didn’t hold for long and by the fifth minute they were 2-0 down, the impressive Kristain Simo opening the scoring for the home side and Jamie Holland adding the second. Thunder had to dig deep to hold that score line to the end of the period and got few offensive chances, the best, a break-away by Tom Hurley bring a fine save from Kelly Herring in Islanders goal.

Thunder re-grouped in the period break and looked a different team in the second period. Despite going a further two goals behind when ex-MK favourite Jesse Hammill and Jason Buckman scored for Islanders, Thunder never gave up on the game and kept attacking when they got the chance. Tome Roles got the MK side on the scoresheet at 25:47 and the goals appeared to ignite the Thunder side. Paul Jamieson added a second three minutes later and by 34:07 Tom Hurley had Thunder back to within one goal at 4-3. A Steve Maile goal at 36:15 eased the pressure on Islanders to make it 5-3, but Thunder had the home side rattled and just before the end of the period Tom Roles scored again to make it 5-4.

It was Islanders turn for harsh words in the period break and they changed their lines round for the last period which seemed to work. The final  twenty minutes was close end to end  hockey with neither team giving an inch. Eventually it was Islanders strength in numbers which made the difference and they restored a two goal lead through Jamie Holland at 46:01. At 6-4 down Thunder never gave up the fight but in the end the Peterborough side were worthy, if somewhat relieved winners.