The WALDECK Peterborough Phantomswere unfortunate to suffer penalty shot defeat in their final home game of 2024.
Phantoms were without the services of defenceman Brad Bowering after he was injured on Saturday night in Milton Keynes, whilst Vincent Graziano backed up Hayden Lavigne in the absence of Luke Clark, who was away on Phantoms NIHL2 duty.
They didn’t get off to the best of starts when they turned the puck over in their own zone, allowing former Phantom Martins Susters the time and space to put the visitors ahead in the first minute.
But Phantoms got back on level terms inside five minutes, when Tom Norton’s blue line effort deflected off a stick out in front, and into the net, for a powerplay goal.
Phantoms continued to grow into the game and almost took the lead when Duncan Speirs’ effort was tipped in front, but flew wide on this occasion.
The Phantoms’ penalty killing unit were then called into action as MKL were given a 5-on-3 powerplay, but the Phantoms defended resolutely and eventually returned to full strength unscathed.
And they were rewarded for their efforts with just over four minutes to play in the period, when Barni Sari notched his first WALDECK Peterborough Phantoms goal from out in front of net, to send the sides into the intermission with the Phantoms ahead.
Louie Kynaston was awarded the Phantoms’ November Player of the Month award before face off and continued his fine form into this game. Having already collected an assist on Sari’s goal, Phantoms’ #8 got the tip on Scott Robson’s blue line effort to double the home side’s lead.
Nathan Salem went close to making it four, before Nojus Venskutonis was called into action to deny Susters a shot on a potential MKL breakaway.
But MKL pulled a goal back on 27:02 when another former Phantom, Corey McEwen, fired a shot into the top corner of Hayden Lavigne’s net.
The sides continued to trade chances as Jarvis Hunt went close for Phantoms, before Carter Hamill saw his shot well saved by Lavigne.
Janne Laakkonen had the goal gaping after a good set up by Tom Norton, but the Finnish forward was at too tight of an angle to squeeze the puck into the net.
As the third period ticked on, Lavigne produced a ‘save of the season’ contender, when he sprung across his goal to keep what looked to be a certain goal, out, and ensure Phantoms still held the one goal lead.
But after Sari and Luke Ferrara went close at the other end, MKL did level the scores when Sean Norris squeezed an effort in from a tight angle.
Regulation and overtime couldn’t split the sides, which meant the game would be decided by penalty shots.
PP - Hough - Miss
MK - Norris - Miss
PP - Ferrara - Goal
MK - Venus - Miss
PP - Laakkonen - Miss
MK - Susters - Goal
PP - Salem - Goal
MK - Cownie - Goal
PP - Mitchell-King - Goal
MK - Wallace - Goal
MK - Susters - Goal
PP - Ferrara - Miss
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 3-4 Milton Keynes Lightning
Phantoms goals:
4:48 (PP 1-1 MK): #2 Tom Norton / #29 Cam Hough / #62 Janne Laakkonen (PPG)
15:45 (PP 2-1 MK): #92 Barni Sari / #26 Tom Palmer / #8 Louie Kynaston (EHG)
22:50 (PP 3-1 MK): #8 Louie Kynaston / #11 Scott Robson (EHG)
MKL goals:
00:59 (PP 0-1 MK): #77 Martins Susters / #71 Harry Gulliver (EHG)
27:02 (PP 3-2 MK): #17 Corey McEwen / #95 Jordan Cownie / #86 Sean Norris (EHG)
53:35 (PP 3-3 MK): #86 Sean Norris / #95 Jordan Cownie (EHG)
65:00 (PP 3-4 MK) #77 Martins Susters (PS)
Phantoms Man of the Match: #8 Louie Kynaston
MKL Man of the Match: #77 Martins Susters