The Waldeck Peterborough Phantoms saw off the Bees in their opening NIHL National clash of the 2022/23 season.
Phantoms ran straight into penalty trouble with 1:44 played, as Will Weldon sat two minutes for slashing. But that didn’t stop Lukas Sladkovsky, as he capitalised on a breakaway by going to the backhand and tapping home.
But the lead didn’t last long, as Juha Lindgren sprung Brendan Walkom on a breakaway and he made no mistake with his finish.
Glenn Billing notched his first of the season with just over ten minutes played, by cutting in from the right wing and ripping a great shot into the top corner.
And it was Billing who stretched the lead to two moments later, capitalising on a Corey McEwen assist to score from closer range than his first.
But the Bees hit back before the end of the first, as Walkom this time turned provider for Lindgren, who found space out in front to one time an effort past Jordan Marr.
And they drew level with four and a half minutes played in the second period. Stuart Mogg found a gap at Marr’s near post to notch a powerplay goal from the left circle.
It wasn’t long before the Phantoms were back in front though, as captain Will Weldon marked his first appearance of the season by finding space in the middle of the zone to rip an effort into the back of the net.
The two goal lead was restored by Austin Mitchell-King, who arrived at the back post at the perfect time to score his first competitive goal for the club.
The referees were kept busy as Dominik Gabaj threw a poor hit, adjudged by the referees to be a kneeing penalty – which sparked a fight between Tom Barry and JJ Pitchley – but both fell to the ice before the action properly started.
Mitchell-King’s second quickly followed, as the former Telford man tapped home from close range.
But Phantoms then had the rare task of killing off a seven minute penalty, as Joe Gretton was given 2 minutes for cross checking and a match penalty for fighting, after going for Gabaj when play restarted.
And Slava’s side killed the penalty brilliantly, keeping their three goal advantage intact to secure their first win of the season in their first game.
Phantoms goals:
2:41 (PP 1-0 BB): #91 Lukas Sladkovsky (unassisted) (SHG)
10:06 (PP 2-1 BB): #72 Glenn Billing / #2 Tom Norton / #11 Scott Robson (PPG)
12:03 (PP 3-1 BB): #72 Glenn Billing / #71 Corey McEwen (EHG)
34:07 (PP 4-3 BB): #29 Will Weldon (unassisted) (PPG)
42:42 (PP 5-3 BB): #24 Austin Mitchell-King / #91 Lukas Sladkovsky / #34 Ralfs Circenis (PPG)
49:38 (PP 6-3 BB): #24 Austin Mitchell-King / #34 Ralfs Circenis / #91 Lukas Sladkovsky (PPG)
Bees goals:
6:49 (PP 1-1 BB): #96 Brendan Walkom / #38 Juha Lindgren (EHG)
14:40 (PP 3-2 BB): #38 Juha Lindgren / #96 Brendan Walkom (EHG)
24:30 (PP 3-3 BB): #94 Stuart Mogg / #23 Dominik Gabaj (PPG)
Phantoms man of the match: #24 Austin Mitchell-King
Bees man of the match: #23 Dominik Gabaj