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MK Lightning 8-2 Telford Tigers
Period scores (3-0, 4-2, 1-0)
Shots on goal: 49-27
Penalty Minutes: MKL 6-10 Tigers
MK Scorers: Ales Parez 1+2, Nick Poole 0+3, Andre Smulter 2+0, Michael Wales 2+0, James Archer 1+1, James Pease 1+1, Grant McPherson 0+2, Adam Carr 0+1, Lewis Christie 0+1, Gary Clarke 0+1, Chris McEwen 0+1, Lukas Zatopek 0+1. Nets: Barry Hollyhead 00:00-40:00 16/18 (88.89%) Mark Woolf 40:00-60:00 9/9 (100%)
The new look MK Lightning won their pre-season match in convincing style with a home win over Telford. Both teams began the game with a fast pace, more common in play-off hockey than pre-season and both Telford’s Davey Lawrence and Barry Hollyhead had to make early saves.
The deadlock was broken on 9 minutes when Andre Smulter managed to find a gap between the post and Lawrence to score on his home debut. Just 35 seconds later another debutant scored, when James Archer fired in from close range assisted by Poole and McPherson. Ales Parez then scored after 14 minutes, calmly rounding the sprawling Lawrence and firing home into the empty net. The period ended with the Lightning winning 3-0 and the Tigers left the ice stunned by the home sides attacking play.
The second period began in a similar style, with MK enjoying large spells of possession, the Telford defence managed to keep the Lightning at bay until 25.28 showed on the clock and Michael Wales fired the puck over Lawrence for 4-0. The first powerplay started at 27.27 when Tigers’ Gareth Owen was called for a slash. The man advantage lasted only 14 seconds before James Pease tipped in a Lukas Zatopek slapshot, it was somewhat of a rare goal for Peasey and he savoured the moment. Telford started to get themselves into the game, and had a chance to score when Zatopek was called for an interference minor. Tigers were unable to capitalise on the powerplay, and almost got caught out by a Gary Clarke breakaway. The visitors changed netminders at the halfway point, with Daniel Heslop replacing Lawrence. Telford then managed to pull themselves back into the game with two goals in under a minute. The first a scrappy goal from Marek Hornak and then a superbly taken wrist shot from Scott Williams. The two goals seemed to kick start Lightning again and the five goal advantage was restored by the end of the period with Andre and Muzzy both getting their second goals of the game, Muzzy’s effort coming on another powerplay.
The final period saw Barry Hollyhead replaced in goal by Mark Woolf and Woolfie looked solid for his twenty minute spell in goal, saving all nine shots he faced. Early season fatigue began to show for both teams and the pace of the game was considerably slower than in the first two periods. Lightning still looked capable of scoring goals, and new signing Lukas Zatopek was given a standing ovation by fans after heroically diving to prevent a 2-1 opportunity from Tigers’ Dan Mackriel and Jason Cassells. There was one final goal when Matt Towalski skated past two defenceman and then deked Heslop before firing a back handed shot into the roof of the net.
The Lightning fans left the Thunderdome very pleased and excited about the upcoming season and next weeks battle for the ashes with the Phantoms. All the new signings
MKL Goals
9.01 Smulter, Carr
9.36 Archer, McPherson, Poole
14.10 Parez, Christie, Archer
15.28 Wales, Parez, Poole
27.41 Pease, Clarke, Zatopek PP
35.57 Smulter, McEwen,
38.28 Wales, Parez, Poole
57.34 McEwen, Pease
Telford Goals
34.11 Hornak, Carlon, Armstrong
34.50 Williams, Owen
MKL Penalties
2.09 McPherson, 2 mins, delaying the game
17.04 Zatopek, 2 mins cross checking
30.09 Zatopke, 2mins, interference
Telford Penalties
2.09 Owen, 2 mins, delaying the game
17.04 Carlon, 2 mins, slashing
27.27 Owen, 2 mins, slashing
36.38 Croft, 2 mins, hooking
43.26 Stanton, 2 mins, knees
Shot on Goal
MKL – Hollyhead - 18
MKL – Wolfe - 9
Telford – Lawrence – 22
Telford – Heslop – 25
Referee – Roman Szucs
Linesmen – Petr Popluhar, Will Hewitt
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