The Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms notched another four point weekend with a big win over the Bristol Pitbulls.
Phantoms’ ’not icing’ list was almost as long as their teamsheet, but they met a side in a similar predicament, with multiple members of the Pitbulls also missing, including import goalie Tommy Nappier. Phantoms legend and Bristol Head Coach, Ales Padelek, laced up for the game, to help his sides’ numbers.
It didn’t take Phantoms long to hit the front as Janne Laakkonen found Dillon Lawrence in his office out in front, enabling the big Canadian forward to slam home goal number one with 1:42 played.
But the Pitbulls hit back just under a minute later - perhaps the 13 goal thriller of Saturday night should have been an indication of what was to come in this game. Mason Lipsey was the scorer, scoring from close range.
Bristol then hit the front with just 5:22 played as they cycled the puck well on the powerplay, enabling Tanner Butler to step in from the blue line and rip a shot into the back of the net.
But their lead also lasted less than a minute, as Morgan Clarke-Pizzo notched his first of the evening to make it two-a-piece.
The game was just shy of nine minutes old when goal number five hit the net. Thankfully, it was in Phantoms’ favour, as Lawrence popped up in the right circle to fire home his second of the game.
The second period continued where the first ended, just 1:22 into the middle period, Josh Batch took a pass from behind the net from Caly Robertson and tapped home a Pitbulls powerplay goal.
There was a full five minute gap between goals this time but again, when it did come, it was for the Phantoms. Clarke-Pizzo picking up his second of the game with a well taken snapshot from the left circle.
Cam Hough put a bit of daylight between the sides as the second period came towards an end, taking a pass out in front to dispatch past Harry Thomas in the Bristol goal.
There was a 35 second wait for the first goal of the third period and it was Hough again who capitalised on a feed from Luke Ferrara to make it 6-3.
And Ferrara added his own name to the scoresheet moments later when he fired on net from the right circle, Thomas got a big piece of it, but it trickled on behind him into the net.
The scoring was rounded off at 53:29 when Lawrence, after a couple of earlier attempts went close, completed his hat-trick with another good finish from out in front of goal.
Will Bray entered the game for his debut for the closing six minutes, as Hayden Lavigne enjoyed his first rest of the season.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 8-3 Bristol Pitbulls
Phantoms goals:
1:42 (PP 1-0 BP): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #29 Cam Hough (PPG)
5:49 (PP 2-2 BP): #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo / #29 Cam Hough / #33 Ralfs Circenis (EHG)
8:56 (PP 3-2 BP): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #19 Luke Ferrara / #2 Tom Norton (PPG)
27:06 (PP 4-3 BP): #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo / #92 Barni Sari / #25 Billy Thorpe (PPG)
38:31 (PP 5-3 BP): #29 Cam Hough / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #19 Luke Ferrara (EHG)
40:35 (PP 6-3 BP): #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara / #25 Billy Thorpe (EHG)
42:20 (PP 7-3 BP): #19 Luke Ferrara / #2 Tom Norton / #92 Barni Sari (EHG)
53:29 (PP 8-3 BP): #14 Dillon Lawrence (Hat-Trick) / #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo (EHG)
Pitbulls goals:
2:34 (PP 1-1 BP): #91 Mason Lipsey / #10 John Dunbar (EHG)
5:22 (PP 1-2 BP): #24 Tanner Butler / #10 John Dunbar / #92 Caly Robertson (PPG)
21:22 (PP 3-3 BP): #41 Josh Batch / #92 Caly Robertson / #10 John Dunbar (PPG)
Phantoms man of the match: #14 Dillon Lawrence
Pitbulls man of the