In case you missed it see what’s in this section
We recommend
Let's Talk
Your Total Guide To sport
BUZZER REPORT: Swindon Wildcats 6 Hull Pirates 4
It was a night to celebrate for Swindon Wildcats, as they recovered from last weekend’s set-back against MK Lightning to defeat Hull Pirates 6-4 upon home ice. Total Sport’s Ben Callaghan was rink-side to recount the best of the action...
For the first time this season at home the Wildcats took on the EPL newbies, Hull Pirates and sealed a deserved 6-4 victory. Cats were boosted with the return of Tomasz Malasinski. Jordan Hedley took the start for Swindon with Martins Raitums making his debut for the Hull Pirates.
It would be the visitors who had the better chances early on in the opening few minutes. After testing Hedley early on at 6:08 they had the first goal of the game. James Hutchinson found room down the left wing and blasted a shot through Hedley and into the back of the net.
Only two minutes later they doubled their advantage when Cameron Brownley cut back inside from the wing and wristed a shot into the top corner which led to Swindon taking their timeout. This saw the Cats create many more chances with Carlo Finucci, Adam Harding and Tomasz Malasinski all forcing Raitums into solid glove saves.
Aaron Nell took getting his side back into the match on his own shoulders with two goals in two minutes. Firstly a goal mouth scramble saw Nell poke the puck past Raitums who was left stranded on the ice. Just two minutes later Tomasz Malasinski had room behind the net to slide the puck forwards to Nell in the slot. The coach quickly shot through the legs of Raitums to tie the game at two.
The Cats were finding their feet when Carlo Finucci got a shot away which, despite the Hull netminder getting some of the puck, was not enough to stop the Canadian’s shot going into the net.
Swindon had settled into the game plan during the second and were creating more chances. They got their fourth goal on the powerplay at 24:32. Aaron Nell had a shot saved from the blue-line but Tomasz Malasinski roofed the puck from the rebound into the top of the Pirates net.
Hull were able to test Hedley more in the middle period with both Sam Towner and Pasi Salonen forcing Hedley into good pad saves.
Corey McEwen scored his second goal in as many games at 29:08 after some really strong work along the boards he cut back in front of the net and managed to squeeze the puck over the line.
As the period was ticking down, Sam Bullas took a two minute penalty for High Sticks and the Pirates managed to convert for their third goal of the evening.
Cameron Brownley took a shot from just off the blue-line which was deflected off the skates of Lee Richardson and passed an unlucky Jordan Hedley who didn’t have any chance of stopping it. The period came to an end with Swindon 5-3 up.
The final period was more end to end and the Pirates got back into the game with a shorthanded goal at 48:04. Tommi Laine found himself through on goal who fired straight past Jordan Hedley to bring the Pirates within a goal.
There was just enough time for Tomasz Malasinski to score his second of the night with a huge slapshot which found its way into the top corner of the net to seal the Cats 6-4 victory in front of a packed home crowd.
Weather in Swindon
Listings