Milton Keynes Lightning 6-5 Guildford Flames (After OT)

Period Scores: 1-0, 2-3, 2-2 (1-0)

Penalties: 12-12

Shots on goal: 56-48

MK Scorers: Gary Clarke 2+2, Andre Smulter 2+1, Nick Poole 1+1, Ales Parez 0+2, James Archer 1+0, Adam Carr 0+1, Lukas Zatopek 0+1. Net: Barry Hollyhead 43/48 (89.58%)

Lightning got their first points of the new season after a nail biting win over last season’s league champions, Guildford. MK had James Archer back in the squad after suffering from the flu, and Ross Green and Glen Trivett also iced, Lightning were without Lewis Christie on defence. The hosts were keen to avenge the previous weekend’s defeats and took to the attack from the opening face-off. Despite firing 22 shots on Joe Watkins’ goal, the Lightning could only score once with Gary Clarke firing home after good link up play with Nick Poole and Andre Smulter.

Guildford began to find their feet in the second and after an end to end opening five minutes, the visitors pulled level through player-coach Paul Dixon. Under two minutes later though MK had restored the lead through Archer, assisted by Adam Carr and Al Parez. Sixty four seconds later, Lightning’s advantage had doubled when Smulter fired an unstoppable wrist shot over Watkins’ shoulder for 3-1. The home side were unable to hold onto the lead at the end of the period though, with Lukas Smital and Stephen Lee scoring to level the scores at 3-3. Lee’s goal coming on a five on three powerplay, with James Pease and Lukas Zatopek sitting out minor penalties.

Within the first two minutes MK looked out of the game, with two quick fire goals from Ollie Bronniman and Taras Foremsky giving the guests a 5-3 advantage. It looked like it was all going wrong when Greg Randall picked up a holding penalty, giving Flames another powerplay. It was Lightning who scored though when strong penalty killing from Clarke and Poole resulted in the MK player-coach making the score 4-5. Lightning then had a chance to equalise on a powerplay when Lee was called for kneeing Matt Towalski. The collision saw Towalski helped off the ice by team mates, and he would not return for the remainder of the game. A great solo goal from Smulter saw Lightning tie the game on the man advantage. Both sides had a number of chances to get the winner, but both Barry Hollyhead and Watkins made big saves to force the game into overtime.