The WALDECK Peterborough Phantoms travelled to Leeds with hopes of extending their winning streak against the Knights. Within the first minute, Cam Hough led the Phantoms into the game as he wound his stick up at Knights’ goalie Sam Gospel. Noah McMullin punished the Phantoms as he scored the first goal for the Knights at 1:19.
At 03:52, Tom Norton was handed a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, despite this setback, Phantoms’ Scott Robson and Brad Bowering worked well together to stop Matt Bissonnette making chances for the Knights.
The period became more physical as it developed, with Bissonnette boarding Robson trying to dispossess him, Norton boarding Finley Bradon in retaliation and Callum Buglass’ helmet popping off his head after an attack made by a Knights’ player.
Leeds Knights had a controversial second goal, as the backboard behind Hayden Lavigne’s goal was found to be dislodged, this helped Bradon score for the Knights - after the goal the officials managed to resolve this issue.
Phantoms Duncan Speirs and Cam Hough took shots at Gospel, but as the Phantoms chances increased so did the tensions on the ice; this was displayed when Jordan Buesa hooked Bowering, Joe Gretton defended his teammate, but was handed a roughing penalty for his conduct.
Leeds Knights entered period two with a minor penalty on Buesa - Jordan Griffin found the Phantom pressure too much as he boarded Gretton multiple times, Griffin’s luck was short-lived as the officials handed him 2+2 for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct.Less than 30 seconds later, Bissonnette was given two minutes for cross-checking; this gave the Phantoms five skaters and the Knights three; the Phantoms placed pressure on the Knights with Speirs and Bowering taking shots at Gospel.
Frustrated with the scoreline, Norton boarded Oli Endicott, Endicott responded and fought Norton, and both were handed five-minute penalties for fighting, Norton was also handed a two-minute penalty for interference - the Knights capitalised on this powerplay in the form of Bradon, scoring the third for the Knights.
Defensemen Buglass and Bowering blocked shots from Matt Haywood and Mac Howlett respectively; furthermore, Phantoms’ forwards Barni Sári and Tom Palmer made their efforts at Gospel’s net, proving they weren’t willing to give up. Both teams entered the final period with the scoreboard 3-0 to the Knights, the majority of the period was end-to-end action with Lavigne and Gospel facing rapid shots. In the last two minutes, Speirs rang the bell for the Phantoms.
Final Score: Leeds Knights 3-1 Peterborough Phantoms
Man Of The Match:
Knights: #31 Sam Gospel
Phantoms: #25 Billy Thorpe
Knights Goals:
01:19 (LK 1-0 PP) #54 Noah McMullin / #95 Mac Howlett / #11 Matthew Haywood (EHG)
11:56 (LK 2-0 PP) #33 Finley Bradon / #44 Jordan Griffin (EHG)
29:15 (LK 3-0 PP) #33 Finley Bradon / #11 Matthew Haywood / #12 Kieran Brown (PPG)
Phantoms Goals:
58:44 (LK 3-1 PP) #38 Duncan Speirs / #2 Thomas Norton / #19 Luke Ferrara (EHG)