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Four point weekend: Wildcats Sting The Bees
In the second part of the weekend's four point double-header, Wildcats met Bracknell Bees on Sunday evening seeking to build upon yet another impressive home victory over Telford Tigers.
Travelling down the M4 on Sunday to take on the Bracknell Bees, Swindon Wildcats ran out 7-4 victors thanks to an Aaron Nell hat-trick and a late duo of goals from Jonas Höög.
Swindon started the game strongly and managed to take the lead at 6:21. Corey McEwen raced down the centre of the ice and fired a stunning shot into the top corner of the net past Alex Mettam.
Jordan Hedley, who'd been given the start between the nets, was called into action to deny Milan Kostourek before Swindon doubled their advantage at 7:38.
Carlo Finucci found room on the right hand side of the net and shot into the top corner from a tight angle for a 2-0 lead. The assists on the goal going to Adam Harding and Tomasz Malasinski.
Bracknell settled a little and found a way onto the board at 10:03. Milan Kostourek was fed the puck from Carl Graham and the Czech import turned well in front of Hedley and slid the puck under the pads of the Swindon goalie.
Swindon regained their two goal advantage at 12:03 when Aaron Nell scored his first of the night. The player coach found room in the slot to fire through Mettam with the assists going to Jonas Höög and Matt Selby.
As the period died down Bracknell were able to get their second of the night with a powerplay strike. James Galazzi was able to tip down a shot from Jan Bendik and deflect the puck past Hedley, the period finished with the Cats holding a 3-2 lead.
The middle period was much more feisty with Matt Selby and James Galazzi dropping the gloves with just 37 seconds gone. Galazzi edged the fight, with Selby not playing any further part in the game after hitting the ice hard.
The Bees tied the game up at 22:34 when Matt Foord marked his 600th EPL game with a goal. Swindon had numerous penalties to kill in the middle period, including Sam Bullas getting 2+10 for checking from behind. Although the Bees were unable to beat Hedley as the second period ended with the game tied at 3-3.
The third period proved to be more open with the Cats again able to regain the lead at 44:16. Nell had room on the blue-line and fired a wrist shot from distance past Mettam, the assists being awarded to Finucci and Höög.
Bracknell wouldn't lie down and tied the game up again through Galazzi, who broke through into the Swindon zone and fired a wrist shot passed a screened Hedley.
As the period ticked on both netminders were beginning to make big saves. Mettam denied both Harding and Malasinski while Hedley superbly denied Milan Kostourek and Ivan Antonov.
At 56:23 the Wildcats finally got their game-winning goal. Nell skated hard down the right wing and fired into the top left corner of the net to complete his hat-trick. Höög then got in on the action at 57:33 when the Swede went through one on one with Mettam and found room under the pad to score the cats sixth of the night. The assists going to Nell and Stevie Whitfield.
The same three players combined again at 58:17 when Höög broke down the left wing and was able to fire from halfway into the empty net after Mettam had gone to the bench for the extra man.
As the final buzzer went, the very loud and enthusiastic away fans went wild with the confirmation of a much needed four point weekend.
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