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Buzzer Report: Swindon Wildcats 1 MK Lightning 1 (Cats Win On Penalties)
The first game as part of a weekend of double away fixtures, Swindon Wildcats travelled to Milton Keynes to face the high-flying MK Lightning. Total Sport's Ben Callaghan was on hand to recount the best of the action.
Stevie Lyle produced a masterclass between the Swindon pipes to ensure Swindon Wildcats left Milton Keynes with a 2-1 penalty shot win over the Lightning.
The Welsh shot stopper turned away shot after shot as the Wildcats took the extra point after Carlo Finucci and Jonas Höög scored vital penalty attempts at the end of the game.
The Cats were the side who took the lead. The league's top points scorer, Tomasz Malasinski, continued his great run when he pounced on a Dean Skinns rebound and gave the Wildcats the opening goal of the evening at 7.34 with Aaron Nell and Jonas Höög getting the assists.
The lead didn't last long, MK equalised through Grant McPherson at 8.59. Some good work in front of the net allowed him to slide the puck under Stevie Lyle who was left helpless. Adam Carr and Leigh Jamieson were awarded the assists on the goal.
The first period ended at 1-1. And the next 45 minutes of hockey would fail to see any goals. It was a case of two netminders really showing their talents with both Dean Skinns and Stevie Lyle making brilliant saves throughout the second and third periods.
At 27.10 some handbags between Bobby Chamberlain and Matt Selby saw both players get 2+2 for fighting, with neither player really able to get clear throws in.
The overtime period saw both teams go very close. Stevie Lyle stopped three close range shots, one a deflection off Corey McEwen, to keep the Cats in the game.
At the other end of the ice Dean Skinns proved his talents with stunning stops on Tomasz Malasinski and Adam Harding. Penalty shots beckoned, Carlo Finucci stepped up first and slid the puck under Skinns for a sweet opening shot.
Frankie Bakrlik was denied by Lyle before Tomasz Malasinski saw his efforts beat Skinns but the puck smacked off the crossbar.
Blaz Emersic stepped up for MK and scored with a lovely shot into the top corner. The man Swindon turn to in so many situations, Jonas Höög, produced great skill to move Skinns out of the net and fire into the empty space for a 2-1 lead in the shots.
Adam Carr had to score for MK but Lyle produced a good pad save to confirm the 2 points would be going back to Wiltshire with the Wildcats.
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