A late fightback from the Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms saw Ashley Tait’s side emerge victorious after a penalty shootout against the Sheffield Steeldogs.
Buoyed by the addition of Richard Hartmann and the return from illness of Janne Laakkonen, Phantoms started well, with some early chances being well saved by Alex Oldale.
But it was the home side who took the lead on 8:17, when Tim Smith scrambled home.
But Phantoms hit back with two goals in under a minute. The first came when Corey McEwen swept home from out in front, before a big Dillon Lawrence ripper saw Phantoms go into the first intermission with the lead.
The Steeldogs drew level again with 27:20 played, when CJ Garcia stepped out in front and wristed his effort into the bottom corner.
It took Phantoms just 29 seconds to strike back this time, as Lawrence picked up his second of the night with a wrist shot arguably even more impressive than his first.
And it was looking even better for the Phantoms at 31:23 when McEwen notched his second of the evening, showing real tenacity to win the puck back high, before finishing beyond Oldale for a short handed goal.
But the Dogs weren’t to be counted out and stuck back again through the lively Walker Sommer, who went on to level the scores 16 seconds into the third period.
And it looked as though Phantoms’ energy zapping performance was going to be in vein when Bair Gendunov redirected a blue line effort beyond the despairing Hayden Lavigne.
That was until Coach Tait called a timeout and brought Lavigne to the bench. And, with the extra skater on, Brad Bowering ripped home a dramatic late leveller to send the game into overtime.
No goals in the overtime period, meaning it was settled by penalty shots.
PP - Hough - GOAL
SS - Larinmaa - SAVE
PP - Ferrara - SAVE
SS - Gendunov - SAVE
PP - Laakkonen - GOAL
FINAL SCORE: Sheffield Steeldogs 5-6 Peterborough Phantoms (After penalty shots)
Steeldogs goals:
08:17 (SS 1-0 PP): #42 Tim Smith / #71 Jack Brammer / #8 Walker Sommer (EHG)
27:20 (SS 2-2 PP): #96 CJ Garcia/ #72 Ivan Björkly-Nordström
33:16 (SS 3-4 PP): #8 Walker Sommer/ #72 Ivan Björkly-Nordström / #20 Jono Phillips (PPG)
40:16 (SS 4-4 PP): #8 Walker Sommer / #20 Jono Phillips / #3 Liam Steele (EHG)
55:38 (SS 5-4 PP): #11 Bair Gendunov / #91 Joonas Larinmaa / #37 Kyle Watson (EHG)
Phantoms goals:
16:35 (SS 1-1 PP): #71 Corey McEwen/ #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo / #33 Ralfs Circenis (PPG)
17:16 (SS 1-2 PP): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #62 Janne Lakkonen / #19 Luke Ferrara (PPG)
27:49 (SS 2-3 PP): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #2 Tom Norton (EHG)
31:23 (SS 2-4 PP): #71 Corey McEwen (SHG)
58:34 (SS 5-5 PP): 23 Brad Bowering / #19 Luke Ferrara / #71 Corey McEwen
Steeldogs man of the match: #8 Walker Sommer
Phantoms man of the match: #19 Luke Ferrara