A tough night at the Better Link Centre saw the Swindon Wildcats overturn an early Phantoms lead to take both points.
It was a quiet start to the game in Swindon, with much of the early play confined to the neutral zone - with neither side able to establish any sustained pressure.
The Wildcats looked to kickstart the action, as Joe Gretton headed to the penalty box for tripping at 05:29. sending the home side to the powerplay. A couple of breakaway opportunities were well denied by the shortbenched Phantoms’ defence, before a return to full strength continued the visitors’ strong penalty killing form.
A counter attack from the Phantoms’ top line was the first chance to test Renny Marr - with Cam Hough forcing a fine save out of the Wildcats’ netminder.
Caden Villegas looked for his third goal in two games against the Phantoms - but Lavigne had other ideas, producing a solid blocker stop before clearing the danger.
It was Louie Kynaston who was next into the offensive zone, linking up well with Barni Sari and Jasper Foster to get a shot away from the hashmarks - with Marr making another good stop to deny him.
Tyler Watkins was the next man to the box, sitting a hooking penalty at 15:24, opening the door for the Phantoms’ in-form powerplay. Captain Luke Ferrara made the most of the opportunity - his initial effort was saved, but after the puck rebounded off Hough and back onto his stick, he converted at 16:56 to give the visitors the lead.
The second period opened with more promise for the home side. Villegas showed some fine skill to pull off a spin-o-rama toe drag, but his attempted lob fell the wrong side of the crossbar.
Ferrara was the next to break, dancing his way down the left wing, but Jacob Minter chased him down well - winning possession and looking to spring Chris Jones from the neutral zone.
Although this attempt was saved, the next was not. Some smart play from former-Phantom Owen Griffiths opened space up for Reed Sayers - his set-up pass found Jones, allowing him to beat Lavigne short-side for the tying goal at 29:18.
Coach Aaron Nell headed to the penalty box for a trip at 30:16 - but a shorthanded effort for the Wildcats was the only chance of note on this powerplay.
Not long after returning to full strength, a go-ahead-goal came for the home side. Ryan Wells saw an effort saved well by Lavigne after some hold-up play from Villegas out wide - but Reed Sayers tidied up the rebound on the doorstep at 32:58.
Hough continued his pursuit of the League goalscoring record, with a breakaway opportunity well saved by Marr in the dying moments of the middle period.
Scott Robson opened the final frame with a trip to the box - sitting for tripping at 43:21. It wasn’t long before the Phantoms man returned to the game, however, as a rocket from Jones was tipped in by Eddie Bebris less than 20 seconds into the Wildcats’ powerplay.
Villegas continued to pile on the pressure, seeing a handful of efforts saved in the closing minutes. With only a few minutes left, his effort found a waiting Nell out front - with the experienced forward making no mistake for 4-1 at 57:14.
FINAL SCORE: Swindon Wildcats 4-1 Peterborough Phantoms
Wildcats Goals:
29:18 (SW 1-1 PP): #11 Chris Jones / #16 Reed Sayers / #77 Owen Griffiths (EHG)
32:58 (SW 2-1 PP): #16 Reed Sayers / #12 Ryan Wells / #26 Caden Villegas (EHG)
43:39 (SW 3-1 PP): #71 Edgars Bebris / #11 Chris Jones / #12 Ryan Wells (PPG)
57:14 (SW 4-1 PP): #19 Aaron Nell / #26 Caden Villegas / #89 Tomasz Malasinski (EHG)
Phantoms Goals:
16:56 (SW 0-1 PP): #19 Luke Ferrara / #2 Tom Norton / #29 Cam Hough (PPG)
Wildcats Man of the Match: #71 Eddie Bebris
Phantoms Man of the Match: #3