MATCH REPORT | PHANTOMS RISE TO SHARE THE WEEKEND’S SPOILS

An excellent performance and result for the Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms saw them split their double header weekend with the Sheffield Steeldogs.

It quickly became apparent that Phantoms were in no mood to repeat the performance which saw them fall to the Dogs on Saturday night and they almost took the lead early on when Janne Laakkonen found the onrushing Cam Hough, but Alex Oldale made the save.

He couldn’t deny the next effort, though, as Laakkonen picked out Dillon Lawrence in the middle of the zone and the big Canadian forward blasted his shot into the back of the net.

The lead was doubled shortly after a good Phantoms penalty kill as Hough sent Laakkonen racing through, who squared across for Louie Kynaston to finish well.

It may have been early, but Phantoms were full of confidence by this stage and went close again when Hough found Laakkonen from behind the goal, which forced Oldale into another good stop.

Hayden Lavigne was called into action to deny Kyle Watson from in close, before also repelling a couple of Joonas Larinmaa efforts in quick succession.

Phantoms made it three at 17:43 when Ralfs Circenis blocked a shot in the defensive zone, chased down the loose puck, took it through on goal, went to the backhand and slotted his shot through the five hole of Oldale.

And it got even better for the Phantoms just 50 seconds later when Hough dispatched almost a carbon copy of Circenis’ goal as he went backhand, five hole on Oldale.

The second period began in similar fashion, as Luke Ferrara and Lawrence linked up to provide the chance for Laakkonen to add his name to the scoresheet, which he did with a tidy finish.

Lavigne continued to stand tall at the other end and made another smart stop to deny Walker Sommer, before darting across his net to stop Liam Steele’s rebound effort, with the defenceman looking destined to score.

But the Steeldogs reduced the arrears at 34:06 when Bair Gendunov took a good cross crease pass from Tim Smith to tap home at the back post.

The goal gave the Steeldogs life and they went close again when Sommer gained the zone and ripped it for the far corner, but Lavigne tipped the effort away well.

Slava Koulikov’s side did grab a second at 37:27, though, when Nathan Ripley scored with a well placed slap shot into the bottom corner.

The Steeldogs notched the first goal of the third when CJ Garcia pinched in on the attack and found the back of the net.

But Phantoms didn’t let it get them down and almost hit straight back when Billy Thorpe sprung Hough onto the attack, but his shot was well saved by Oldale.

Phantoms had their sixth when Morgan Clarke-Pizzo stretched his pass to Circenis, who skated in and ripped it top shelf for his second of the night.

The Steeldogs hit back again late on, benefitting from a poweprlay and an extra skater with Oldale at the bench, as Watson scored from in close.

They pulled the goalie again in the closing moments but, after some good defending from the Phantoms, Hough rounded off the scoring with an empty net goal.

FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 7-4 Sheffield Steeldogs

Phantoms goals:

3:19 (PP 1-0 SS): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #23 Brad Bowering (EHG)
7:27 (PP 2-0 SS): #8 Louie Kynaston / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #29 Cam Hough (EHG)
17:43 (PP 3-0 SS): #33 Ralfs Circenis [unassisted] (EHG)
18:33 (PP 4-0 SS): #29 Cam Hough [unassisted] (EHG)
20:43 (PP 5-0 SS): #62 Janne Laakkonen / #19 Luke Ferrara / #14 Dillon Lawrence (EHG)
50:23 (PP 6-3 SS): #33 Ralfs Circenis / #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo / #29 Cam Hough (EHG)
59:55 (PP 7-4 SS): #29 Cam Hough / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #14 Dillon Lawrence (ENG)