Tuomas Tikkanen netted his first two goals for Lightning but it was not enough to earn him man of the match as Nick Poole’s men at last found their scoring touch with a 6-3 win over Swindon Wildcats.
Tikkanen was outdone for the match award by Grant McPherson who also recorded a brace and had a hand in Matt Towalski’s first period strike.
But the goals didn’t come until after McPherson and Wildcats’ Nicky Watt clashed in the second minute – the Swindon man getting an extra two minute in the sin bin.

It was Tikkanen who opened Lightning’s account after 7mins 57secs when he crashed home Leigh Jamieson’s set past goalie Tom Murdy.

But the lead was quickly erased with Lightning caught napping when Jonas Hoog supplied Aaron Nell for the equaliser only 23 seconds later.

Michael Wales was unlucky not to beat Murdy shortly before he started the move which saw McPherson supply Towalski for a shot which went into the top left of the net on 17mins 46secs.

The second period was only 39 seconds old when Nick Poole sent Tikkanen away up the left and the Finn unleashed a superb rocket shot which gave Murdy no chance to make it 3-1.

McPherson stretched the lead on the powerplay – taking just three seconds to register unassisted after Jan Melichar was penalised for slashing on 32mins 43secs.
Swindon called an immediate timeout and although they stopped any further goals in the period they still came under a lot of pressure.

Wildcats started the third session short-handed with Nicky Watt in the sin bin but that did not stop Nell from making it 4-2 within 56 seconds of the restart.

But the three goal difference was restored as Lukas Zatopek fed McPherson for his second of the game from close range after 52mins 55secs before a power blast from Hoog which gave goalie Alex Mettam no chance after 57mins 27secs.

Murdy was withdrawn with 1min 5secs remaining and just 10 seconds later Zatopek spotted the chance for an empty net goal with a shot from his own half of the ice to make it 6-3.

MKL Goals

7.57 Tikkanen, Jamieson, Farn E
17.26 Towalski, McPherson, Wales E
20.39 Tikkanen, Poole E
32.46 McPherson PP
52.55 McPherson, Zatopek E
59.05 Zatopek ENG

Swindon Goals

8.20 Nell, Hoog, Melichar E
40.56 Nell SH
57.27 Hoog, Nell, Swindlehurst E

MKL Penalties

1.39 McPherson, 2 + 2 mins, roughing
7.16 Zatopek, 2 mins, roughing
28.20 Carr, 2 mins, slashing
34.26 Towalski, 2 mins, hooking

Swindon Penalties

1.39 Watt, 2 + 2 +2 mins, roughing
7.16 Richardson, 2 mins, hi sticks
28.20 Pinc, 2 mins, slashing
32.43 Melichar, 2 mins, slashing
35.18 Melichar, 2 mins, holding
39.11 Watt, 2 mins, roughing

Shots on Goal

MKL – Mettam -  13, 11, 8 = 32
MKL – Empty Net - 0
Swindon – Murdy – 13, 14, 9 = 36
Swindon – Empty Net – 1

Referee – Tom Pering
Linesmen – Danny Beresford, Nick Stephenson