The Waldeck Peterborough Phantoms began 2023 with a home win over the Raiders.
Jordan Marr was called into action early on, as the Raiders worked an opportunity to the back post, but Marr sprawled and smothered the puck before it crossed the line.
And after killing the game’s first penalty, Phantoms took the lead. Ralfs Circenis collected the puck in the middle of the zone, took it to the blue line and ripped it into the net through traffic.
Phantoms held the upper hand for the majority of the opening frame, putting 20 shots on Brad Windebank’s goal, but he was beaten by just the one in the opening 20 minutes.
But it took just over a minute and a half for the Phantoms to beat him again when the second period began. When Tom Norton found Ales Padelek in the right circle, #93 blasted home a one timer from a tight angle.
And the third came in unfortunate circumstances for the Raiders goalie. When Will Weldon put a tame shot on goal from an overhit pass, the puck squirmed between Windebank’s legs and into the back of the net.
As the game approached the mid-way point, Glenn Billing made it 4-0, tapping home Norton’s goal bound effort on the powerplay.
Raiders got themselves on the board with just over five minutes to play in the middle period, as Brandon Ayliffe ripped an effort past Jordan Marr to reduce the arrears.
Tjay Anderson then cut the lead back down to two with just under ten minutes to play in regulation, beating Marr over the shoulder to put the Raiders back in with a chance.
But the Phantoms held out to win their first game of 2023.
Phantoms goals:
6:45 (PP 1-0 RR): #34 Ralfs Circenis / #29 Will Weldon (EHG)
21:38 (PP 2-0 RR): #93 Ales Padelek / #2 Tom Norton / #38 Duncan Speirs (PPG)
22:41 (PP 3-0 RR): #29 Will Weldon / #24 Austin Mitchell-King / #34 Ralfs Circenis (EHG)
28:14 (PP 4-0 RR): #72 Glenn Billing / #2 Tom Norton / #93 Ales Padelek (PPG)
Raiders goals:
34:12 (PP 4-1 RR): #10 Brandon Ayliffe / #94 Alex Roberts / #98 Tjay Anderson (EHG)
51:03 (PP 4-2 RR): #98 Tjay Anderson / #94 Alex Roberts (EHG)
Phantoms man of the match: #38 Duncan Speirs
Raiders man of the match: #91 Matthieu Gomercic