MK Lightning made a barnstorming start to 2011 with a dominant 4-0 shut-out of local rivals Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday, new signing Blaz Emersic making an impressive debut.

The home side looked by far the more composed all evening, playing an effective and confident passing game – with netminder Barry Hollyhead in top form to deny the Phantoms a single goal, despite their shot count only just lagging behind that of the home side.

Monir Kalgoum continued his recovery from a shoulder injury handing Blaz Emersic his home debut in front of another healthy home attendance.  And the imposing Slovenian was quick to make his mark, working with Adam Brittle to set up Andre Smulter for Lightning’s first goal at 13:58.  That goal was still being announced when player-coach Nick Poole pounced to score an unassisted goal only 23 seconds later.  Lightning looked easily the more competent and determined side all evening, capitalising on Peterborough’s hesitance.  As if to illustrate MK’s dominance, Smulter scored the team’s second unassisted goal at 33:53 as the home side stretched their legs.

By the final period Milton Keynes were well into their stride and rarely looked threatened by Peterborough’s forward lines.  Two powerplays saw the Phantoms briefly run MK close but ultimately fail to take advantage, when Lukas Zatopek and then Matt Towalski were sent to the penalty box.  As Towalski made his way off the ice with less than two minutes left to play, Peterborough called a time out then withdrew their netminder Stephen Wall in an attempt to put pressure on Lightning, but the move backfired when a long range Adam Carr shot found its way into the empty opposition net, putting the result absolutely beyond doubt.  Lightning ended the evening deserved 4-0 winners and headed to Guildford on Sunday evening full of confidence.  MK Lightning Man of the Match: Barry Hollyhead.

A double-header weekend against Telford Tigers will see Lightning going all out to stop the Shropshire team springing another EPL scare this coming weekend (15/16 January).

League leaders Manchester Phoenix were taken to the brink of a shock defeat by struggling Telford recently.  But with hotshot new signing Blaz Emersic settling well within the Lightning set-up, Nick Poole’s men will be determined not to give the Shropshire side a similar foothold.

Lightning have tamed the Tigers on both occasions that they’ve met so far this season, beating Tom Watkins’ squad 4-1 at the Thunderdome and 2-6 at Telford Ice Rink.  Brotherly love will count for little as MK’s Adam Brittle and younger brother Luke, in his first EPL season for Tigers, battle to help their sides to a win.

Unsettled Telford front man Andrej Maslovskis was recalled recently only two weeks after leaving, to provide cover following the news that the Tigers’ top scorer Marek  Hornak has left to concentrate on life outside hockey.

Lightning player-coach Poole praised the Tigers’ tenacity saying: “They took the game to Phoenix recently and come so close to pulling off a shock win, which shows you just what they’re capable of despite their position in the league.  But we need to take every opportunity to close the gap on the teams above us – Blaz gives us extra firepower and options, so we’ll be going all out to make it a four point weekend”.    

Lightning face off against Tigers at 7pm on Saturday 15 January at Planet Ice, and at 5.30pm the following day at Telford Ice Rink.