MATCH REPORT | SALEM HAT-TRICK SEALS PHANTOMS’ RETURN TO GRAND FINAL

A Nathan Salem hat-trick helped the WALDECK Peterborough Phantoms past the Swindon Wildcats and into the PINIHL Grand Final, with a 4-2 win at the Skydome Arena in Coventry.

The Phantoms couldn’t have asked for a better start, lighting the lamp just 45 seconds into the first semi-final of the day. A great solo effort from Salem saw him carry the puck from centre ice before finishing confidently past Renny Marr.

The Wildcats looked to hit back quickly and apply some early pressure of their own - but Phantoms netminder Hayden Lavigne continued his fine run of form, coming up with a pair of solid stops to maintain the lead.

Around halfway through the first period, Captain Luke Ferrara came up with a smart finish to double his side's lead, assisted by Cam Hough at 11:42.

With the Cats calling a timeout, Phantoms knew they'd have to absorb some offensive pressure to maintain a two-goal advantage.

A strong two-way showing from the Phantoms kept the Wildcats at bay - with Richard Hartmann and Cam Hough shutting down Glenn Billing and Reed Sayers respectively.

A net-front scramble saw a goal review called by the officials. After the puck had deflected over Lavigne, it appeared to be knocked out of his glove in the frenzy. Referees Ferguson and Anderson opted for a better view of the incident - with no interference seen on the play and the puck over the line, the goal was awarded to Tomasz Malasinski at 17:50.

The second period picked up where the first left off - with Salem continuing to torment the Wildcats, going close twice. As in the first - Renny Marr stood tall to keep the deficit to one.

Phantoms' second line looked to find its groove, with Speirs, Mitchell-King and Salem all going close. However, it was Joe Gretton who next tested Marr - breaking at speed down the wing before firing a shot into the Scotsman's mask.

The Cats levelled the score at 30:39, with Balint Pakozdi ripping home from the off side; assisted by Eddie Bebris.

Marr continued to block out the Phantoms, denying Hough at the back post and Speirs from range - before the buzzer brought an end to period 2.

As they did in Leeds last weekend, the Phantoms looked to move up a gear in the final period. A couple of Hough attempts from distance were kicked clear by Marr - before Tomasz Malasinski was called for slashing.

It was another quiet powerplay for the Phantoms, with an Aaron Nell shorthanded attempt well cut out by Duncan Speirs before the Cats again returned to full strength.

But Salem then fired home his second of the game, retaking the lead for the Phantoms at 52:24; assisted again by Mitchell-King.

Looking for another equaliser, the Cats pulled Marr with around 90 seconds on the clock. An icing call saw him temporarily return to play - before being pulled again with under a minute to go.

The extra skater wasn't enough for the Cats - with Nathan Salem firing into the empty net from his own zone on the buzzer, sealing his hat trick and progression to the PINIHL Grand Final!

With the Leeds Knights falling in overtime in the second semi-final of the day - your WALDECK Peterborough Phantoms will faceoff against local rivals MK Lightning in Sunday's Grand Final - looking to defend their playoff title!