The Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms put Saturday night’s penalty shot disappointment behind them as they ran out convincing winners over the Bristol Pitbulls on Sunday night.
It was an important game for Ashley Tait’s side as they continue their bid to qualify for the semi-finals of the NIHL National Cup. It was also a big night for 19-year-old defenceman Preston Tombs, who made his Phantoms debut amidst his two-way with the Invicta Dynamos.
Ralfs Circenis had the game’s first notable chance when he won the puck back in the offensive zone and worked himself into a shooting lane, but saw that shot saved by Tommy Nappier.
Bayley Harewood tested the Phantoms’ resolve with a shorthanded breakaway, but Hayden Lavigne was equal to his effort.
Luke Ferrara went close with a shorthanded breakaway but, after being unceremoniously hauled down, only managed to put his shot just wide of the post.
Harewood continued to threaten and found Canadian forward John Dunbar on the back post, but the former Solway man couldn’t find the target with his shot.
The sides went into the first break as they started, but it didn’t take long for the scoring to begin in the second period. It was the Pitbulls who grabbed it, as Dunbar found an unmarked Caly Robertson on the back post for a simple finish.
But Phantoms continued to look a threat and after Janne Laakkonen and Dillon Lawrence had tested Nappier, it was Laakkonen who drew his side level with a back post finish on the powerplay.
And they hit the front just 72 seconds later, when AJ Herring released Morgan Clarke-Pizzo in on goal and Phantoms’ #13 finished well beyond Nappier. It was a goal which brought up Herring’s first goal as a member of the senior Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms!
Luke Ferrara extended the Phantoms lead to two at 28:33 when he fired in off the post.
And Cam Hough completed the period’s scoring with eight seconds remaining in the frame with a shorthanded marker. The Canadian forward burst through on a breakaway and pulled a lovely move on Nappier, allowing him to lift his shot into the roof of the net.
Ales Padelek’s Bristol Pitbulls threatened a comeback when they scored in the opening minute of the third - Max Wigfield tapping home from close range after an initial save from Lavigne.
But Hough and his teammates were having none of it, as our #29 found the top corner of the Bristol net for his second of the evening at 47:11.
And the scoring was round off by, guess who? Cam Hough again, as he completed his hat-trick. This time, he took a pass from Laakkonen and after his first shot was saved, it was a simple tap in on the rebound for the league’s leading goalscorer.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 6-2 Bristol Pitbulls
Phantoms goals:
25:45 (PP 1-1 BP): #62 Janne Laakkonen / #23 Brad Bowering / #14 Dillon Lawrence (PPG)
26:57 (PP 2-1 BP): #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo / #16 AJ Herring / #23 Brad Bowering (EHG)
28:33 (PP 3-1 BP): #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #14 Dillon Lawrence (EHG)
39:52 (PP 4-1 BP): #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara (SHG)
47:11 (PP 5-2 BP): #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen (EHG)
53:48 (PP 6-2 BP): #29 Cam Hough (Hat-Trick) / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #45 Callum Buglass (EHG)
Pitbulls goals:
22:15 (PP 0-1 BP): #92 Caly Robertson / #10 John Dunbar / #26 Jake Bricknell (EHG)
40:45 (PP 4-2 BP): #81 Max Wigfield / #92 Caly Robertson / #10 John Dunbar (PPG)
Phantoms man of the match: #29 Cam Hough
Pitbulls man of the match: #89 Tommy Nappier