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MK Thunder (2) vs (1) Solihull Barons
Period Scores: 1 - 0, 1 - 1, 0 - 0
Penalty Mins: MK Thunder 8
Solihull Barons
4
Shots on Goal: On MK
Thunder’s Mark Woolf – 31
On Solihull
Baron’s Ricky Young – 23
MK Thunder: Paul Gore 1+1, Pavol Hudak
1+0, Paul Jamieson 0+1, Dan Chaplen 0+1.
Solihull Barons: Andrew Ayers 1+0,
Anthony Rogan 0+1.
Man of the Match: MK Thunder –
Pavol Hudak
Solihull Barons – Andrew Ayers
The first meeting between MK Thunder and
Solihull Barons at Planet Ice resulted in a low scoring but closely contested
game with Thunder just edging it with a 2-1 win. Barons, who up until this
season had competed in the EPL before dropping down a league, have a reputation
for being a physical side, but there was little of that in evidence on Sunday as
both teams concentrated to playing hockey. The closeness of the game meant that
neither side could afford to take penalties so, although scrappy at times, the
game flowed well if little to trouble the officials.
In his first game back following injury,
it was Thunder’s Pavol Hudak that opened the scoring with a neat wrap-around
powerplay goal at 4:35, assisted by Paul Gore. This was the only goal of the
opening period as both netminders took star roles in the game, Mark Woolf in
Thunders goal was on top form yet again and he was matched by Ricky Young at the
opposite end.
An early second period goal saw Barons equalise at 23:08 when Andrew Ayers
eventually found a way past Woolf, but a Paul Gore goal mid-period restored
Thunders advantage, Paul Jamieson providing the assist. With the game swinging
end to end, Thunder could never be sure of holding on to their slender lead and
did their best to find a third goal which would have provided a cushion. However
Barons had other ideas and never gave up pressurising Thunders’ zone in search
of the equaliser. The last few minutes of the game were very tense with Barons
on the attack and Thunder resolutely defending to the final whistle to take the
2-1 win. |
