The Waldeck Peterborough Phantoms survived a fightback from the Bristol Pitbulls to secure a four point weekend.
It was a game Phantoms got wrapped up in the first period, despite a late comeback from the visiting Pitbulls. Jasper Foster opened the scoring, skating out in front with the puck before ripping it into the top corner.
Ivan Björkly Nordström made it two with just 4:58 played when he launched a massive slap shot from the right circle into the far top corner.
Phantoms increased their lead to three with almost eleven and a half minutes played, as Lukas Sladkovsky tapped home a rebound after good work and initial shot by Callum Buglass.
Their fourth followed just 58 second after, when Björkly Nordström tapped home a rebound from Jarvis Hunt’s shot to secure his second goal of the game.
That was all she wrote in terms of scoring for the Phantoms and the Pitbulls pulled one back early in the second when Bayley Harewood won the puck back and fired it into the top corner.
Bristol continued to increase the pressure in the third period, with Harewood and Mason Lipsey being denied by Tyler De La Bertouche.
Joe Gretton almost put the game beyond doubt when he won a battle to the puck and released a good shot, but Ben Norton denied him.
Bristol reduced the score to 4-2 with 53:43 on the clock when Reece Cochrane released Bari McKenzie on a shorthanded breakaway and the Pitbulls’ captain scored through the five hole of De La Bertouche.
And Phantoms were back in a battle on 55:20 when Brennan Feasey found the net from the left circle to make it a one goal game.
Jarvis Hunt saw a good effort well blocked before the Pitbulls pulled the goalie for the extra skater. Phantoms held on, though, securing a four point weekend for Slava’s side.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 4-3 Bristol Pitbulls
Phantoms goals:
2:47 (PP 1-0 BP): #95 Jasper Foster / #8 Louie Kynaston / #13 Connor Glossop (EHG)
4:53 (PP 2-0 BP): #5 Ivan Björkly Nordström / #34 Ralfs Circenis / #11 Scott Robson (EHG)
11:26 (PP 3-0 BP): #91 Lukas Sladkovsky / #45 Callum Buglass / #19 Luke Ferrara (EHG)
12:24 (PP 4-0 BP): #5 Ivan Björkly Nordström / #96 Jarvis Hunt / #2 Tom Norton (EHG)
Pitbulls goals:
22:06 (PP 4-1 BP): #77 Bayley Harewood / #91 Mason Lipsey / #7 Daniel Hardie (EHG)
53:43 (PP 4-2 BP): #9 Bari McKenzie / #51 Reece Cochrane (SHG)
55:20 (PP 4-3 BP): #89 Brennan Feasey / #77 Bayley Harewood / #9 Bari McKenzie (EHG)
Phantoms man of the match: #8 Louie Kynaston
​Pitbulls man of the match: #77 Bayley Harewood