The Waldeck Peterborough Phantoms completed a four point weekend with a Sunday night win over the Solway Sharks.
In truth, the game took a while to get going, but Phantoms were creating chances on a fairly regular basis. Ralfs Circenis and Lukas Sladkovsky had a good chance each in the opening period, both saved by Callum Hepburn in the Sharks’ goal.
Jordan Marr was then called into action when the Sharks broke 2-on-0, but the Phantoms goalie stood tall to make the stop.
Ales Padelek went close with a backhand effort in close after good work by Ivan Björkly Nordström, but the opening period ended goalless.
The opening goal came just under seven minutes into the middle period, as Lukas Sladkovsky added another impressive goal to his highlight reel. The Czech forward dangled past the defenceman and deked past Hepburn, before tapping the puck into the empty net.
But the Sharks hit straight back as Nolan Gardiner found the net through the five hole of Marr.
Phantoms were given a five minute powerplay after a poor hit by Craig Peacock on Callum Buglass, which saw the Welsh defenceman play no further part in the game.
Padelek made the advantage count, tipping home a Circenis shot from close range to put Phantoms back in front.
And they got a second on the powerplay moments later, as captain Will Weldon tapped home after Hepburn had done well to keep a fierce Sladkovsky slapshot out.
Sladkovsky then went close to making it 4-1 towards the end of the period, but rung the crossbar with another good effort.
Solway got themselves back to within one in the opening two minutes of the third period, as import forward John Dunbar pulled a nice move to beat the Phantoms’ defenceman and find the net.
Luke Ferrara reinstated the two goal lead with just under three minutes to play, taking a good pass by Joe Gretton to skate in and score.
But Solway wouldn’t roll over and scored again with 50 seconds to play, as they pulled the goalie and went with the extra skater. Dunbar collected his second of the game, ringing one in off the post.
But on the next shift, Circenis put the game to bed by going five hole on the backhand to ensure Phantoms’ four point weekend in their final game before Christmas.
Phantoms welcome the Milton Keynes Lightning to Planet Ice Peterborough on 27th December, before a reverse clash against the same side the following day.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 5-3 Solway Sharks
Phantoms goals:
26:57 (PP 1-0 SS): #91 Lukas Sladkovsky / #38 Duncan Speirs / #19 Luke Ferrara (EHG)
34:37 (PP 2-1 SS): #93 Ales Padelek / #34 Ralfs Circenis / #2 Tom Norton (PPG)
35:41 (PP 3-1 SS): #29 Will Weldon / #91 Lukas Sladkovsky / #19 Luke Ferrara (PPG)
57:07 (PP 4-2 SS): #19 Luke Ferrara / #35 Joe Gretton / #23 Brad Bowering (EHG)
59:26 (PP 5-3 SS): #34 Ralfs Circenis / #19 Luke Ferrara / #2 Tom Norton (EHG)
Sharks goals:
29:25 (PP 1-1 SS): #43 Nolan Gardiner / #22 John Dunbar (EHG)
41:03 (PP 3-2 SS): #22 John Dunbar / #43 Nolan Gardiner (EHG)
59:10 (PP 4-3 SS): #22 John Dunbar / #43 Nolan Gardiner (EHG)
Phantoms man of the match: #91 Lukas Sladkovsky
Sharks man of the match: #30 Calum Hepburn