The WALDECK Peterborough Phantoms travelled to Leeds for their final road game of the regular season.
Less than a minute into the game, Tom Norton wheeled around Knights goalie Harrison Walker’s net and took a shot on goal, with Austin Mitchell-King. Duncan Speirs and Jasper Foster following suit with successive attempts - the latter coming closest.
This fierce start forced a reaction from the Knights, with Kieran Brown, and Dylan Hehir both taking shots at Phantoms goalie Hayden Lavigne, but it was Mac Howlett who managed to get the better of Lavigne and open the scoring. Not willing to let Leeds have the perfect night of celebrations, Cam Hough levelled the scoring less than two minutes later, rounding Walker to fire home.
Both teams attempted to swing momentum, with Nick Martin dispossessing Bow Neely on the Phantoms blue line and Innes Gallacher putting his body on the line to keep out Cam Hough.
Entering the second period on equal ground, both teams pushed hard to try and get the go-ahead goal, Norton shot at Walker - with Martin sat near the net waiting to tap home. Hough took shots at Walker, having intercepted the Knights’ tic-tac-toe hockey - but was denied a brace on the night. Phantoms secured their second goal after fine work from Nick Martin left Louie Kynaston Johnny-on-the-spot to tidy up a rebound.
The Phantoms knew the best way to overcome the Knights was to absorb the pressure, Billy Thorpe took charge, defending Lavigne from Bissonnette’s breakaway and dispossessing Neely as both tried to make opportunities at his net. Norton also covered Matt Barron, twice interrupting his play. Neither team seemed willing to budge - with Lavigne standing tall to keep the Knights’ goal tally at one - whilst Walker found his rhythm, shutting down Brad Bowering, Hough and Kynaston.
Nathan Salem was handed a two minute slashing penalty, placing the Phantoms on the penalty kill. Lavigne faced shots from Jordan Buesa, Brown, Neely and Howlett but Lavigne held strong and kept the Phantoms in the lead. Once back to full strength, Connor Glossop and Hough both bore down on Walker. The remainder of the period was akin to a firing gallery for Lavigne - facing 33 shots and conceding 0 - as the Knights desperately tried to find an equaliser. A Phantoms breakaway almost saw the Phantoms home and dry - but Walker kept his team in the game.
In the last three minutes of the game, Noah McMullin sat two for holding, putting the Phantoms on the powerplay. Less than twenty seconds later, Lavigne slashed Howlett as he chased the puck, leaving Joe Gretton to sit his penalty. Back to evenhanded hockey, the Knights still tried to get a goal past Lavigne - eventually pulling Walker and calling a timeout.
Final Score: Leeds Knights 1-2 Peterborough Phantoms
Man of the Match:
Knights: #32 Harrison Walker
Phantoms: #30 Hayden Lavigne
Knights Goals:
07:05 (LK 1-0 PP) #95 Mac Howlett /#14 Lewis Baldwin / #54 Noah McMullin (EHG)
Phantoms Goals:
08:49 (LK 1-1 PP) #29 Cameron Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara / #45 Callum Buglass (EHG)
29:16 (LK 1-2 PP) #8 Louie Kynaston / #5 Nicholas Martin / #23 Bradley Bowering (EHG)