A closely fought overtime loss against the Sheffield Steeldogs was enough for your Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms to secure a spot in the 2025-26 NIHL Cup semi-final!
It was a relatively quiet opening period for both sides, with Hayden Lavigne and Brady Parker putting in strong performances.
The Steeldogs struck first - with former Great Britain Captain Jonathan Phillips converting a set-up pass from Walker Sommer, after some good play by Bjorkly-Nordstrom at 06:57.
A couple of good breakaway opportunities fell for Walker Sommer in the closing stages of the period - but Lavigne was equal to them both, leaving the Phantoms with a one-goal deficit entering the middle frame.
High-scoring Cam Hough looked to get the Phantoms back on level terms in the early stages of the second period - but Brady Parker was standing on his head in Bretton.
With the Phantoms frustrated, it was the Steeldogs who picked up momentum. With shots raining on Lavigne - including two good efforts for Brady Doxey and Bair Gendunov - it was a matter of time before the lead was extended.
Kyle Watson was the man to benefit, lifting the puck over Lavigne from close range after a pinpoint pass from Gendunov at 24:58 - putting the Phantoms further on the back foot.
With the wind in their sails, the Steeldogs continued to press. Watson and Sommer’s pace proved problematic, as their breaks into the offensive third repeatedly tested Lavigne.
The Phantoms knew they needed a big third period to stand a chance at progressing in the NIHL cup, with overtime being enough to send them through.
It was a determined penalty kill effort from the home side, who then capitalised on the momentum of a return to full strength with a goal. Janne Laakkonen caught Parker by surprise from the wing, lifting the puck high over him unassisted at 43:21.
With Hough and Laakkonen beginning to panic Parker - the puck sprang loose, just about covered by the Steeldogs' defence.
The road side were less lucky on the next shift, as a Laakkonen effort snuck home to level the scores at 51:14 - the ice now tilted fully in the home side’s favour.
A quiet extra period saw a handful of efforts at either end, with neither side really testing the goaltenders. A turnover on the blue line decided the game, with Sommer capitalising on the play and sealing the extra point for Slava Koulikov’s men at 63:16.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 2-3 Sheffield Steeldogs (OT)
Phantoms Goals:
43:21 (PP 1-2 SS): #62 Janne Laakkonen [Unassisted] (EHG)
51:14 (PP 2-2 SS): #62 Janne Laakkonen / #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara (EHG)
Steeldogs Goals:
06:57 (PP 0-1 SS): #20 Jonathan Phillips / #8 Walker Sommer / #72 Ivan Bjorkly-Nordstrom (EHG)
24:58 (PP 0-2 SS): #37 Kyle Watson / #13 Bair Gendunov / #6 Ben Morgan (EHG)
63:16 (PP 2-3 SS): #8 Walker Sommer / #96 CJ Garcia / #72 Ivan Bjorkly-Nordstrom (EHG)
Phantoms Man of the Match: #62 Janne Laakkonen
Steeldogs Man of the Match: #34 Brady Parker