A superb empty net goal a second from the final buzzer rounded off a 4-1 victory against Telford Tigers at the Thunderdome.

With nothing to lose after Tigers withdrew keeper Martin Clarkson for the extra skater with 1min 2secs remaining, Leigh Jamieson just outside Alex Mettam’s crease took the goalie’s pass and blasted the puck up ice. When Andre Smulter redirected the puck Tigers defence had no chance of stopping it hit the back of the net.

Lightning had looked to be in for a fairly easy night when Gary Clarke passed from behind the net for Andre Smulter to beat Clarkson after 3mins 20secs and the same pair of players produced the second goal at 17mins 5secs.
On that occasion Smulter fired in with Clarkson failing to hold the puck and Clarke shot home on the rebound.

It was not until the 35th minute that referee Dan Boardman called the first penalty, by then Tigers had been buoyed by a goal from the blue line by Chris Allen at 30mins 30secs.

They seemed to step up their game for the remainder of the period but were unable to add to their score.

It took until 49mins 14secs for Adam Carr to somehow squeeze the puck past Clarkson to make it 3-1.

There was a moment of mini drama when Michael Wales and Tom Watkins exchanged fists with just over a minute to go – a result of niggling incidents earlier in the game – but it did not amount to much with minor penalties dished out.

Almost immediately Clarkson went off to allow an extra skater and Lightning rounded off with the empty net goal.

MKL Goals

03.20 Smulter, Clarke, Brittle, E
17.05 Clarke, Smulter, Brittle, E
49.14 Carr, Wales, Poole, E
59.59 Smulter, Jamieson, Mettam, EN

Telford Goals

30.30 Allen, Hornak, McKenzie, E

MKL Penalties

40.20 Brittle, 2 mins, Tripping
58.44 Wales, 2 mins, Roughing
58.44 Wales, 2 mins, Roughing

Telford Penalties

35.06 McKinney, 2 mins, Tripping
44.20 Bench, 2 mins, Delaying the game
58.44 Watkins, 2 mins, Roughing
58.44 Watkins, 2 mins, Roughing

Shots on Goal

MKL – Mettam – 10,7,6 = 23
Telford – Clarkson – 15,6,19 = 40
Telford – Empty Net – 0,0,1 = 1

Referee – Dan Boardman
Linesmen – Jason Earle, Rick Adams