The Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms picked up an invaluable two points in their ongoing battle for cup qualification, as they defeated the Solway Sharks in overtime.
The first period wasn’t Phantoms’ best and they almost fell behind early after a turnover near their own goal saw Hayden Lavigne called into action.
The sides traded chances throughout the period as Morgan Clarke-Pizzo went close at one end, before Jake Bolton blasted a blue line effort into the glove of Lavigne.
Ralfs Circenis and Janne Laakkonen had the next best chances, whilst Jonathan Yantsis and Bolton threatened at the other end.
But in the end, the sides went into the first intermission as they begun, tied at 0.
That didn’t remain for too long, as Phantoms hit the front through Laakkonen, who tipped home from to the right of goal to give Ashley Tait’s side the lead.
The goal gave Phantoms confidence and the first was quickly followed by a second. This time, Dillon Lawrence gained the zone and went alone and he fired his wrist shot into the top corner of Jordan Marr’s goal.
You could feel the momentum shift after the goals and Phantoms began to have some of their best passages of play of the game. Hough again going close with a tight angled effort, which was turned away by Marr.
Phantoms did take a three goal lead into the second break, though, as Lawrence picked up his second of the night. Ralfs Circenis was the architect, picking out Lawrence as he entered the zone late, and Phantoms #14 found the back of the net with another well taken finish.
Richard Hartmann had the chance to put the cherry on the second period cake, but his breakaway missed the target in the final seconds of the period.
Phantoms began the third period well, albeit having to kill an early penalty, as they limited the Sharks to half chances. Scott Henderson, Duncan Speirs and Torran Anderson all tried their luck, to no avail.
But the warning signs showed at 52:25 when Dylan Stewart was picked out by fellow import Yantsis, and the Canadian ripped home Solway’s opener on the powerplay.
Warning signs became alerts at 55:15 as Liam Stenton skated the puck in close and benefitted from a couple of fortunate bounces to send his shot into the back of the Phantoms net.
And the comeback was complete when Buesa tipped home a Bolton blue liner with 1:55 left to play, sending the game into overtime.
Phantoms made relatively light work of the powerplay as, after controlling much of the opening minute, won the game when Ferrara gained the zone and found Hough in the left circle, who fired his shot into the far corner.
It was a much needed win for the Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms, who go two points closer to potential qualification for the semi-finals of the NIHL National Cup.
FINAL SCORE: Solway Sharks 3-4 Peterborough Phantoms
Phantoms goals:
28:40 (SS 0-1 PP): #62 Janne Laakkonen / #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara (EHG)
30:02 (SS 0-2 PP): #14 Dillon Lawrence [unassisted] (EHG)
37:05 (SS 0-3 PP): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #33 Ralfs Circenis (EHG)
61:07 (SS 3-4 PP): #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara (EHG)
Sharks goals:
52:25 (SS 1-3 PP): #9 Dylan Stewart / #23 Jonathan Yantsis / #24 Carter Hamill (PPG)
55:15 (SS 2-3 PP): #10 Liam Stenton / #9 Dylan Stewart / #34 Jordan Buesa (EHG)
58:05 (SS 3-3 PP): #34 Jordan Buesa / #19 Jake Bolton (EHG)
Phantoms man of the match: #14 Dillon Lawrence
Sharks man of the match: #34 Jordan Buesa