Four point weekend: Wildcats Hunt The Tigers

On Saturday evening the Wildcats returned to home ice to take on Telford Tigers for the final time at the Link Centre this season. Swindon started well with Aaron Nell getting the first shot of the game on the opening shift, and it didn't take long for the Wildcats to score. Jan Kostal drove down the middle of the ice and fired a slapshot from distance which flew into the top corner, the assists being given to Jonas Höög and Nell. 

 

Telford created chances through their own forward lines with Jason Silverthorn, Petrr Szabo and Joe Miller all forcing saves out of Lyle with the Cats holding a 1-0 lead. The Cats managed to double their advantage with 5:10 left in the period. Nell found room in front of the net to poke the puck underneath the pads of Gospel for 2-0. The assists again being awarded to Jonas Höög and Jan Kostal. The Cats ended the first period two goals up and in control of the game.

 

After 41 seconds of the second period, Telford had an opportunity to get back into the contest when Neil Liddiard conceded a penalty shot. Phil Hill stepped up to take, but Stevie Lyle was better to the shot and turned it away with his glove. At 35:53 Swindon converted again through familiar faces when Höög teed up Nell to slide the puck through the legs of Gospel for a 3-0 lead at 35.53.

 

Moments later Swindon had a penalty shot of their own when Höög was prevented from shooting on a breakaway. In similar fashion Sam Gospel stood strong and blocked the shot to keep the score at 3-0. As the period died down the Tigers kept pushing, Miller again being denied by the glove of Lyle, who was having a storming match between the pipes. Right at the end of the period they did break the zero score, Jason Silverthorn tipped a shot from Jonathan Weaver into the top corner past the screened Lyle.

 

The Cats knew they were one period from victory with the 3-1 lead. Swindon defended like their lives depended on it and began to rally around Lyle in the net. The Tigers pressed and pressed which led the Cats to have more chances at the other end. Tomasz Malasinski was denied expertly by Gospel on back-to-back breakaways.

 

The minutes ran out for the Tigers. Wildcats ensured the points stayed in Wiltshire thanks to a man of the match performance from Lyle and a great team effort.