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EPL Weekly Roundup week 22 – w/e midnight Sunday 19th February 2012 – The Iceman

 

After last weekend and the odd game or two which raised an eyebrow perhaps it wasn’t such a surprise that Telford coach Tom Watkins said, ‘No excuses,’ following the avalanche that smothered his side both nights. It wasn’t just the magnitude of the defeats that upset him but the fact his side didn’t provide much in the way of a return. Take the last couple of weeks, for instance, where they have beaten the Flames and put six past the Phantoms, so as Watkins said, ‘After a weekend like that, all you can do is move on.’

 

Flames’ coach Paul Dixon, following the penalty loss to the Bees said, not for the first time this season, ‘I felt we were in control. Perhaps we got a bit too comfortable, but costly mistakes essentially gave them a couple of goals.’ But, while hardly a problem likely to cause the Guildford side to throw their leadership hopes out the window, with the Phoenix racing up behind them you never know when a carelessly dropped point or two will come back to impose an effect greater than the sum of those points – if you know wot I mean, ‘Arry?

 

Meanwhile, Coach Chris Allen at the Phantoms after trouncing the Tigers said, ‘Every game and every point is now vital for us and I will do anything that is needed to make sure this team makes the play-offs.’ This raises an interesting point because although you would expect nothing less from your coach, the fact that with a six inch and four stone advantage he was able to see off young Luke Brittle makes you wonder why this big EPL-leading D-man isn’t known for throwing his weight around a bit more. So is this what he means by, ‘I will do anything?’

 

But let’s not take anything away from their big win over the Tigers which attracted much praise for the cohesion of the team and James Ferrara’s hat-trick, but is this a sustainable new-found approach and would such a performance have been duplicated against, say the Jets and the Bison? Oh, well, we will find out this weekend?

 

On to the Bees and Coach Gareth Cox noted, ‘form recently has been good and it is a great credit to the boys. We’ve definitely got a bit more momentum.’ By this, of course, he isn’t just referring to the penalty win over the Flames but points picked up from the Phoenix, Lightning, Tigers and Phantoms.

 

Also in a positive frame of mind is Coach Ryan Aldridge at the Wildcats who, after finally winning against the Bison said, ‘We have belief now and we know we are capable of beating any team in the league because we have beaten everybody already.’ Hmmm. I think the Steeldogs might have something to say about that having a four from four record against the Swindon side, so best keep mum.

    

 

In the EPL Top Tens Charts this week Steeldogs’ Janis Ozolins swapped with  Slough’s Adam Calder at the top of the EPL with both Flames’ Nathan Rempel and Lightning’s Leigh Jameson both making entries. In the Brit Chart Flames’ David Longstaff stayed top with Wildcats’ Aaron Nell entering at the foot.

 

However, on game average it is Flames’ Jozef Kohut, who entered at the top, who is staying put but with a slightly lower average although still a chunk above anyone else, at least for the time being, but Nell who now becomes the top Brit by average and is also improving in the hat-trick department.

 

Lightning’s Leigh Jameson continues as the only Brit in the Top Ten EPL Goal Scoring Chart, with little change elsewhere and in Assists the most notable change is the entry of James Ferrara now in the Brit Chart after his hat-trick weekend.

 

On the injury front, Whack Of The Week must go to Lightning’s Blaz Emersic who took a puck to the face near the end of the Steeldogs’ game which required a visit to hospital for stitches, but which thankfully showed nothing broken and the insistence he would be back on the ice Saturday.

 

News came from the Phoenix in the week that Tony Hand was back in training having been out with a broken ankle since November. ‘I am not going to rush it,‘ he said. ‘The team has done well without me.’ Hmmm. Now is that good news or no so good news?

 

And at the Bison, where a barrowful of injuries has cost them the odd point or two, Coach Steve Moria, referring to the absence of Liam Chong, Tony Redmond, Sam Oakford, Viktor Kubenko and Dan Harris said of the coming weekend, ‘I am hopeful we could have at least a couple of guys back in the line-up.’

 

On to this week’s mid-term games which saw a couple of matches which as far as the Jets and Wildcats were concerned both needed to win: the Wildcats to get away from the chasing Bees, and the Jets to bounce back from their dismantling by the Steeldogs last Sunday.

 

Wildcats 5 – Jets 3

Things between this pair have been even this season with both achieving a win home and away and arriving for this meeting with an edge in recent form going to the Swindon side.

 

Things started pretty evenly with a goal apiece in the first period, but lacking a certain something possibly due to the Bison having only ten out on the ice. However, the second period started with some frenetic activity as Jets’ Ryan Watt demonstrated to Jaroslav Cesky some experimental dance movements to Blood on the Dance Floor after accepting an invitation which must have been sent out last Christmas. The upshot, after a few downshots as well, was brother Nicky taking a ten minute breather for disagreeing with the ref’s 4.5 for technical merit as the Czech left the ice for treatment.

Shortly after, in a burst reminiscent of last Sunday against the Bison, the Wildcats leapt into a comfortable lead which they protected despite plenty of pressure particularly around the three-quarters’ mark when Dan Davies sneaked in and threatened a come-back.

 

Flames 3 – Bison 0

The Bison have beaten the Flames twice in their three encounters and go into the game with a win against the Lightning, and since the Flames come from that penalty loss to the Bees the Basingstoke side must have been feeling perky. But it came to nought and in what was a fairly clinical performance the Flames went ahead after five minutes and added one more in each other period. But to be fair the Bison were not disgraced and found the Flames’ goal over forty times, but unfortunately also found Mark Lee who notched up an EPL record sixth shut-out for the season.

 

EPL Cup 1st semi-final 2nd leg – Lightning 0 – Steeldogs 0 (Steeldogs win 1-0 on aggregate)   

 

Not only are the Lightning not good at beating the Steeldogs, having done so only once in four league games, but are not good at scoring against them either with their last league game and subsequent first Cup semi-finals both shut-outs.

This second leg was not the friendliest of games although with the almost continuous queue for the box, like seven residents at the conclusion of the second period, for example, you would be forgiven for thinking a cosy arrangement had some attraction for many players. But clearly things couldn’t have been much tighter although, ironically, the Lightning had enough shots on goal but couldn’t wipe out that Chris Sykes winner four minutes from time in the first leg that proved enough to elevate the Steeldogs to the final.

On to Saturday and the second EPL Cup semi-final pair kicked off with the Phoenix at home to the Flames.

 

Phoenix 2 – Flames 2 - EPL CUP 2nd semi-final 1st leg

 

These two have met five times in the league with things pretty even with a home and away win each with the Flames taking the last game in Guildford. As far as Cup games go, though, current form doesn’t necessarily mean a lot especially with both these sides doing very nicely, thank you.

And, like the first semi-final pairing, things couldn’t have been closer at least until half way when Ben Campbel limped off, luckily not for long, and then Jozef Kohut put the visitors into the lead which is how it stayed for the rest of the period. Minutes into P2 and James Archer put the Phoenix back level and ten minutes later an exchange of goals between David Longstaff and Ciaran Long within a minute of each other ensured the second leg was at least going to start with a clean sheet.

 

Bison 3 – Bees 1

With Bees current fortunes on the upswing and the Bison’s not, the visitors must have been hopeful of points, especially with the honours shared at two games apiece so far this season.

The Bees started strongly enough and were a bit unlucky to be a goal down going into the first break after a short-handed goal from Nicky Chinn. In P2 the Bees started strongly enough and were a bit unlucky to be 2-goals down going into the second break. In P3, well, they scored a short-handed goal of their own but then conceded another short-handed goal on the empty net. So, considering their recent improved form and at last a full strength squad which managed to outshoot their opponents comfortably, and that they were against an injury-hit Bison, they must be feeling a tad disgruntled.

 

Jets 5 – Phantoms 4 after overtime

The Jets are in need of an antidote having lost to the Steeldogs and Wildcats recently while the Phantoms feel their big win over the Tigers last weekend is the start of something big, new and shiny. But as far as form goes between this pair, the Jets have it four out of five with a two-to-one goal ratio.

However, the Jets must have given a collected sigh of relief when their first goal went in thanks to Darius Pliskauskas, and then gasped minutes later with the reply from James Ferrara and almost sunk to the floor as they went 3-1 down by the first break. More of the same must have been the whispers as the spectre of the Steeldogs crept out of the shadows, especially when Adam Greener was directed to his bike by the referee for an early trip home after a scuffle with Ferrara and Damien King saved a penalty shot by Dan Davies. But at least there were no more goals against.

 

The third saw an early spirited recovery by the Jets only interrupted by a short-handed goal from Ondrej Lauko, and the Phantoms must have been gutted to see Pliskauskas sink another with only seven seconds left on the clock. But the Jets weren’t finished and just to rub salt into the wound Ryan Watt clinched the winner in overtime. From the Phantoms’ perspective without Chris Allen and Luke Ferrara it will be argued whether or not it was a point lost, having given up an impressive lead, or a point gained. But in their position a point-is-a-point and better than nothing or a poke in the ear.

 

Lightning 6 – Wildcats 3

Of their four games the Lightning have proved the strongest, although not unbeatable, with three wins, one on penalties in Swindon, and a loss at home.

The Wildcats having just beaten the Bison and Jets look livelier than of late, while the Lightning have not had a couple of good weeks, including their dismissal from the EPL Cup.

But here was a Milton Keynes side with a lot more promise, especially with new import Tuomas Tikkanen finally getting on the score sheet not once but twice and hopefully proving to Lightning fans a wise replacement for Juraj Gracek. By then end of the first period the Wildcats were a goal down, and the end of the second losing by three. The ever-dangerous Aaron Nell shot in his second, unassisted, to open the third period and momentarily offer some resistance and hope, but Grant McPherson, who had already scored an unassisted power-play goal, pretty much put the dampers on that with eight minutes to spare.

 

After last night’s three league games Sunday saw a full card.

 

Bees 2 – Steeldogs 3 after overtime

Last time out the Steeldogs stuffed the Bees 6-1 but before that they had won in Bracknell but shared the points on the two other occasions they met. Last night the Bees were a little less than snappy against the Bison while the Steeldogs in not playing came from their EPLCup draw against the Lightning.

The game started pretty even with Andre Payette scoring for the visitors seconds before the end of the first period but Matt Foord equalised quickly after the break.

Late in the game Andy Hirst scored what the Steeldogs must have thought was the clincher but thirty seconds from the end the Bees were awarded a penalty shot which Shaun Thompson converted to gain the point, but it was the Steeldogs who won the overtime.

 

Phoenix 5 – Lightning 2

The Lightning won the first encounter with the Phoenix but since then the four other games have all belonged to Manchester.

And this match was not a lot different with the home side 3-up before the first break and with a 3-goal lead by the end of the second. The third period, by which time the game was long out of reach, was highlighted for the visitors with Tuomas Tikkanen scoring for the third time of the weekend and thereby beginning to live up to what it said on the tin.

 

Phantoms 6 – Bison 7 after penalty shoot-out

An away win each goes to this pair with the Phantoms picking a point from their other two games. The Phantoms also collected a point from last night, while the Bison made it two, so a game promising much.

Following the same formula as Saturday the Phantoms started with an early charge with the promise of much more. But the Bison, still depleted, were back on equal terms by the break. From then on it was nip and tuck and by the end of the second period the Bison were a goal down and missing Ollie Bronnimann and Kurt Reynolds to injuries. The third saw the Phantoms increase their lead but Joe Miller scored on a power-play and Steve Moria ensured the overtime in a final five- minute burst for the Bison. Then, as so often happens, the team coming from behind eventually claimed both points in the shoot-out which all raised again the question for the Phantoms of whether this was another point lost, or gained.

 

 

Tigers 1 – Jets 5

The Tigers picked up a point in their first meeting but the two following games went to the Jets by comfortable margins. Last night the Jets had that narrow win over the phantoms while the Tigers never played but arrived for this game from that disastrous previous weekend.

 

While the Jets took an early lead through Ryan Watt and capitalised on it, but going into the third period the game was not all going the Slough way. In fact the Tigers were beaten as much by injuries with Marek Hornak off to hospital with a misbehaving shoulder and both Ryan Selwood and Josh Bruce falling by the wayside. So, while fair play to Watt for his hat-trick, the scorecard created the impression the match was less even than it actually was.

 

Flames 9 – Wildcats 1

The Flames have it five from six in meetings between these two with a whopping seven goal shut-out the first result, while the Wildcats have the latest win suggesting this could be something of a fight.

 

As it turned out, suggestion was about as close as it got. While the Wildcats know how to win and have beaten the best and scored goals you could die happily after witnessing, they also know how to lose in style. This game was not so much a matter of throwing the baby out with the bathwater as sweeping the toiletries from the shelves and ripping out the plumbing with it. Such polarity seems hard to believe with the likes of top ten Brits Aaron Nell, who despite the carnage scored unassisted, and Nicky Watt in the side, plus top ten EPL goal scorers Jaroslav Cesky and Jonus Höög and top ten EPL assist scorer Michal Pinc. Oh yes, and the number three netmnder and recently returned Tom Murdy.

With such a massacre it is not surprising Nathan Rempel got his second hat-trick of the season and ex-Wildcats netminder James Hadfield was granted a period in the Guildford net.  

 

 

So, with the blood and debris having been washed from the rinks, following Saturday the Jets had moved back into third place on goal difference while the Phantoms inched closer to the Bees. Sunday saw the Jets strengthen their position slightly but the Lightning and Wildcats both slipped a bit and the Bees improve. The Flames, however, remain eight points clear at the top of the table with the Phoenix still chomping at the bit with a game in hand and the Bison threatening.  

 

 

EPL Weekly Roundup week 20 – w/e midnight Sunday 5th February 2012 – The Iceman

 

In the EPL Top Tens Charts this week Adam Calder remains top of the Points Scoring table, but the Jets’ Darius Pliskauskas has jumped to mid-way while Tigers’ Scott McKenzie now sits at number ten in the Brit Chart.

 

Points by Game Average is still headed by Calder and while for some time it has been Steeldogs’ Janis Ozolins in contention for the lead, this week saw the Flames’ Nathan Repel move up into the second position. In the Brit Game Average table David Longstaff has returned to the top but Tony Hand has risen back into second place despite not playing a minute.

 

No change in the Goals Charts although Pliskauskas has moved up into second place in the EPL table and Bees’ Lukas Smital has dislodged Luke Ferrara of the Phantoms. In the Brit Goals Chart it is still Lightning’s Leigh Jamieson with Luke Ferrara moving into second place.

 

Both Assists Scored Charts are still ruled by Flames’ David Longstaff but Bees’ Martin Masa jumped into second place in the EPL Chart, while in the Brit Chart Bees’ Shaun Thompson has made an appearance.

 

The D-men Charts are still topped by Phantoms’ Chris Allen and for the Brits Steeldogs’ Ben Morgan but the Flames’ David Savage entered the EPL table meaning he is placed at number four in the Brit Chart which also saw Phoenix’s Luke Boothroyd enter.

 

In the Netminders’ Chart Ben Bowns extended his lead to more than a percentage point, but Jets’ Greg Rockman is slowly creeping up and now threatens Lightning’s Alex Mettam for the second spot.

 

In the Penalty Charts there is no change although Lightning’s Grant McPherson, who must have been hiding in a cupboard, entered the EPL Game Average top ten for the first time.

 

Into the week and with the signing deadline the Flames announced the re-signing of Slovakian forward Jozef Kouhut who previously iced for them between 2003 and 2008 when he averaged well over two points per game. He went on to play for the Wildcats, and most recently HK Puchov in Slovakia.

 

The Tigers suffered an appalling piece of ill-treatment at the hands of Swedish forward Henrik Sahlin, who had only been acquired from the ENL Bristol Pitbulls in December, and who simple walked-out. While no return to Bristol is possible with the loss of the rink there he is apparently returning to Norway, although as Coach Watkins said, ‘Very unprofessional, left without even a phone call.’

 

Sadly this again highlights the short-comings of any contractual value and while there is no point compelling a player to remain where he clearly is not happy, this surely shouldn’t be allowed to happen without some redress? Sadly, it isn’t as though this is the first time this has happened in Telford this season as Andy McKinney walked out in November for Elite League Hull to which Coach Watkins said, ‘Right now I feel very let down. I am very disappointed at the manner of his leaving, with no notice.’

 

Such behaviour is not just unprofessional, as Watkins says, but discredits the sport and is an insult to the English Ice Hockey Association and all it’s clubs because it effectively puts a player above all authority which is a formula for anarchy. Pertinently, had any disciplinary measures been in place Kohut’s return to the Flames may have not been possible after him having walked out on the Wildcats in October 2010.

 

However, the Tigers did manage to sign British forward Vince Connon from his second season with the Elite League Braehead Clan. Connon, still only 20, beforehand completed two creditable seasons with the Ontario Hockey Academy in their Midget League and that after a spell with Dundee Stars.  

 

On to Saturday and a full menu of games.

 

Bison 5 – Wildcats 4

The Bison have looked pretty comfortable against the Wildcats so far this season having played four times, scored 23 times for just eight in reply and not a point conceded with little difference between venues. The Bison also went into the weekend with a win against the Lightning and a strong recovery against the Jets for a penalty win, while the Wildcats only manage a point from a Steeldogs double-header.

But it was the Wildcats that came out strongest and took the lead after a minute then a first goal by Jan Melichar gave the visitors a 2-goal advantage by the first break. But it wasn’t to last and by the second break the Bison had the lead in a game that got progressively feisty. Two goals early in the third by Aaron Nell put the Wildcats back on equal footing and then back into the lead, but again they couldn’t hold it and Jacob Heron got the winner with minutes to spare thereby nudging the Wildcats’ losing streak along.   

 

 

Bees 1 – Tigers 0

Three times these two have met and all games have been close with 2 wins to the Bees in Telford, but a penalty win for the Tigers in Bracknell.

Recently the Bees won in overtime against the Phoenix and then lost to the Phantoms on penalties in a finale that was somewhat controversial while the Tigers suffered an appalling defeat at the hands of the Flames in the first lag of their double-header only to bounce back and win on penalties the night after which inspired Coach Tom Watkins to comment, ‘We have just got to get out consistency levels right home and away.’

This game, however, started close enough, in fact too close for new boy Vince Connon who picked up a lump for his face in his first shift, and then carried on about as equal as it could be with just a Martin Masa goal early in the second period separating the pair. But all credit to netminders Tom Annetts and Greg Blais for keeping it as tight as it was, and the rest for matching shots on goal at 32-each.

Lightning 1 – Phoenix 3

The Lightning at home managed to make a solid deposit against the Phoenix in the first meeting of this pair, but the Phoenix repaid with interest with two wins at home and a convincing victory in Milton Keynes.

In their last games the Lightning shut-out the Bison and then a week later were clobbered in a return match. The Phoenix, meanwhile, beat the Steeldogs mid-week which caused Coach Hand to observe, ‘We are still in the mix,’ but then lost in overtime to the Bees.  

So a goalless first period lulled you into thinking this was going to be a close-fought battle right to the wire, but it wasn’t to be as the Phoenix took control minutes into the second period and the Lightning failed to do much about it. Juraj Faith added a second around the half way mark, and although the reliable Leigh Jamieson pulled one back unassisted half way through the final stint, it was too little too late especially when James Archer stuck another in for good measure and certainly kept the visitors in the ‘mix’.

 

 

Jets 4 – Flames 5 after overtime

The Jets have not made it easy for the league leaders with both sides recording 4-1 home wins, and the last game a victory in Guildford, but only just.

A couple of wins for the Jets were concluded last Sunday by a strong showing against the Bison which they eventually lost on penalties, while the Flames managed three points from four against the Tigers causing Coach Dixon to comment the Tigers, ‘rightly deserved to take the win.’

So you would have expected this one to be close but a Jets’ goal in the first few minutes made you wonder if the Flames were up to it, especially as they went on to outshoot their opponents and Adam Calder added a second almost before the whistle had stopped at beginning the second period. But the Flames have a habit of fighting their way back into a game when duty calls, and the bugle was answered with the equaliser coming in ten minutes and returnee Jozef Kohut claiming the lead at the half way point. Two minutes after that the Flames had not only lost their lead but regained it, but not for long thanks to Aaron Connolly which left the final period too close to separate the sides and Kohut who nabbed the winner in overtime. So, yes, close it was.

 

Steeldogs 3 – Phantoms 0

Despite an early season’s loss at home to the Steeldogs the Phantoms returned in kind but only to be beaten twice in Sheffield. Then followed the revitalised Phantoms’ win at home which the Steeldogs promised never to allow again, so you would be excused for making sure you had a seatbelt with you for this one.

Coming into this pairing after two losses the Steeldogs then recovered from behind to beat the Wildcats on penalties, which inspired Wildcats’ coach Ryan Aldridge to observe his side were ‘perhaps’ guilty of thinking they had it in the bag when they were leading 3-1, but the Steeldogs made sure at home the following night anyway.

Strangely, then, the expected blood bath didn’t take place despite all the sabre rattling in the week although perhaps due to an absence of certain bodies. However, things started well enough with pace and action and, in fact, a surprising lack of penalty minutes so it was hard to separate the pair, and when it came to a scuffle around half way the ref simply had a gentle word in the ear of both captains and off they skipped to the woods again leaping right into the third period where, in a burst of about six minutes the Phantoms seemed to misplace the map and the Steeldogs jumped all over them. By the time things had settled down it was too late and Ben Bowns collected his third shut-out of the season, and a second against the Phantoms, who seemed bewilderingly placid compared a few weeks ago which left the visitors to pick up the points without having to shed any blood.

 

So on to Sunday, and just four games.

 

Flames 4 – Lightning 2

In their first game the Lightning won at home then lost in overtime in the return in Guildford. Since then the Lightning made it more convincing with a 6-2 victory there, but then lost at home, so all-in-all a pretty evenly matched pair.

But last night’s loss at home to the Phoenix has to be considered a mark against the Lightning and a plus for the Flames seeing as they are at home after beating the Jets in Slough in overtime.

But the Flames didn’t get it all their own way. In fact, Blaz Emersic hit the post right at the off and got the equalising goal around the half-way mark, but the lead was immediately reinstated by the Flames and lost again all within a few minutes. All stayed pretty close for twenty minutes and then Nathan Rempel put the Flames back in front but only after a rare treat as returnee Andrew Sharp tried to goad someone, anyone in fact, into a shared partnership in the box. But it was all to no avail which suggested that although even Grant McPherson isn’t exactly lost over the horizon when it comes to finding the sin-bin, he is now shrewd enough to play the odds. But while the Lightning looked more in tune than the night before, they weren’t quite astute enough to upset the Flames.

 

Phoenix 6 – Wildcats 3

A home win apiece for these two but that was before the Phoenix were able to put all the pieces of their winning puzzle together to form a recognisable picture. And with a second away game of the weekend having suffered a tough loss in Basingstoke, the Wildcats were always going to be up against it with the Phoenix on home ice.

Hardly surprising, then, that once again it was the Wildcats who took the lead which is beginning to look like a harbinger of doom because seconds into the second period the Phoenix were equal and by half-way James Archer had chalked up a hat-trick in as many minutes as it took him to have a cup of tea and by the end of the period the Phoenix were comfortably in command finally inflicting the worst losing run the Wildcats have suffered this season.

 

Jets 3 – Bison 0

The Jets have won in Basingstoke but then lost at home with the last game between the pair going to the Bison on penalties at home.

But after a point from last night, on top of a couple of wins including and that point from the Bison a week ago, the Jets must have been feeling fairly confident at home particularly with the Bison making hard work of the Wildcats the evening before at home.

So, it was the Jets who started with two quick goals by Darius Pliskauskas, which although not quickly built on was enough to consolidate their position and keep the Bison out until ten minutes from the end when Pliskauskas completed his hat-trick and Greg Rockman, with a third shutout for the season, moved into second place in that table, but in gaining only a three-point weekend to the Phoenix’s four, have allowed a foot in the door.

 

Tigers 6 – Phantoms 8

The Tigers had lost twice at home to the Phantoms before winning in Peterborough on penalties and then losing in a fourteen-goal fiesta.

Coach Watkins had called this weekend’s games, ‘the biggest matches of the season.’ Well, it was certainly big in goals, equalling the EPL record for the season as the visitors raced away but were quickly reined in ending the period a goal up. The Phantoms raced away again in P2 as Maris Ziedins bagged a hat-trick, and giving rise to the suspicion that that was it. But not quite as the Tigers made a remarkable recovery and once again scored a total worthy of victory in most games with, all on the scoreboard.

 

But the Phantoms must be feeling worried that not only did they concede so many to so few – well no, actually, as amazingly Senko, Soar, Hornak, McKenzie, Brittle and Henry were all on the scoresheet - but against the bottom side to whom they capitulated from such a strong position.

 

 

In the Phantoms’ favour the final play-off spot is increasingly looking like a 3-way event as the Wildcats slip into the Bees’ jaws, but at the top of the table the Phoenix are consolidated clearly in second place, so no sharing of goal-difference there, although the Steeldogs and Jets are only a point away.

 

In the coming week we have the Phantoms at home to the Flames, while the first leg of the first EPL Cup semi-final takes place between the Steeldogs and Lightning in Sheffield.

 

Can’t wait.    

 

 

 

 

EPL Weekly Roundup week 21 – w/e midnight Sunday 12th February 2012 – The Iceman

 

In the EPL Top Tens Charts this week Slough’s Adam Calder and Flames’ David Longstaff stay at the top of the EPL and Brit Points Chart respectively, while Flames’ new signing Jozef Kohut went straight to the top on points-per-game average and Wildcats’ Aaron Nell becomes the top Brit.

 

In the Goal Scoring Charts Steeldogs’ Janis Ozolins and Lightning’s Leigh Jamieson still rule and in the Assist Charts it is still the Flames’ David Longstaff heading both, so no change there.

 

A slight change occurred in the Penalty-Takers’ Top Ten Charts with Flames’ Andrew Sharp ousted from the top of game average chart and replaced by old favourite Andre Payette. On pure minutes, though, it is still Payette and the Jets’ Ryan Watt at the top.

 

No change as far as D-men go with Phantoms’ Chris Allen still leading the EPL on points and Steeldogs’ Ben Morgan still the top Brit.

 

The EPL seems to be entering a critical period, as is often the case in the latter part of the season. Injuries, for instance, have caused havoc in certain quarters and continue to do so while now, understandably, often have a greater effect on results. The other side of that coin is returning players having an affect most notably in Manchester for the Phoenix. But whatever the reasons it all adds to the mix and unpredictability, while the EPL Cup also adds to the workload.

 

Steeldogs 1 – Lightning 0 (EPL Cup 1st semi-final 1st leg)

The first of the semi-final games took place mid-week when the Steeldogs hosted the Lightning who went into the match with losses to the Flames, Phoenix and Bison on their back. For the Steeldogs they had a pair of wins over the Wildcats and a shut-out of the Phantoms as their pedigree, so pressure must be seen to be on the visitors.

 

As it happened, you couldn’t have asked for a tighter game with the Lightning looking more like a side all ordering from the same menu than of late and not much to pick between them. Both sides tested the pipework and penalties weren’t a feature likely to scare your granny, and it was only four minutes from time Steeldogs’ Chris Sykes broke the deadlock. Yes, a shut-out it was, but a result the Lightning were probably almost contented with considering recent form. On the other hand, Coach Payette, absent through suspension but back for the rerun, must have been over the moon at his young side’s achievement.

 

Phantoms 2 – Flames 6

There was another game that evening, in Peterborough, where the Phantoms faced the Flames. Coach Allen said prior to the game, ‘We will be going in there and using the body like we have been doing in our recent home games, and I am sure the Flames won’t like that.’

The Phantoms had just beaten the Tigers and been shut-out by the Steeldogs, while the Flames oddly had only dropped a point to the Tigers recently.

The Phantoms have been inconsistent with their ‘body’ approach and although they kept it tight for forty minutes and were still drawing around half way, in the final period an early three-minute burst with as many goals saw the Flames put the game beyond reach, and although Ondrej Lauko pulled one back Matt Towe restored the four-goal buffer and the body approach was still in the cupboard.

 

 

Come Saturday and a record-breaking 48 goals were scored in the EPL topping the previous total by two.

 

Flames 7 – Phantoms 3

Of their previous meetings the Flames had won two and the Phantoms have a respectable 6-4 win so it wasn’t outside the realms of possibility the Phantoms would put up a fight despite being only three days from a loss at home to the same side. Sadly for them it was more of the same although to their credit they opened the scoring after six minutes through Ondrej Lauko and kept it to one goal for the rest of the period. But the Flames were on equal terms seconds into P2 and an exchange of goals a few minutes later was just about the end of it with the second half belonging to Guildford.

 

Wildcats 7 – Bison 5

The final meeting between these two and the Wildcats have nothing to show for it. They even entered the fray on the back of their worst run of losses this season while the Bison had beaten them as recently as a week before only to be shut-out by the Jets.

However, the Swindon record appeared to being going to plan as the Bison started things rolling and were ahead going into the first break. But three quick goals early in the second put the home side ahead by two goals although they managed to relinquish that advantage seconds before the end of the period. Ho, hum. Then, in the third the Wildcats strung together a spell which included a cracking second goal by Jonus Höög you would write to your mother about and the completion of Aaron Nell’s third hat-trick of the season which all makes you wonder why they can only manage it on alternate Tuesdays with an ‘r’ in the month.        

 

Lightning 3 – Bees 2 after overtime

The Lightning and Bees have crossed swords three times so far, the first game going on penalties to the Lightning, the second to the Bees and the third also to the Lighting, but all have been close. So closeness is what is expected from this game especially as the Lightning are struggling at the moment with a late loss to the Steeldogs in the week in the EPL Cup and the Bees going in the opposite direction with five from six points recently.

 

And close it was with the welcome return of Carl Graham to the Bees fold and a goal apiece in the first period. The Bees then took the lead in the middle period and the Lightning only equalised with four minutes to spare after a bit of a siege of Tom Annett’s net, and then went on to pick up the win in overtime despite actually only leading the game for the first five minutes. But all was not lost because the Bees picked up a point from their EPL-leading twelfth game to go beyond the normal distance.

 

Jets 2 – Steeldogs 9

Yes, that is a scoreline that needs to be looked at again. Coming into this match the Jets had been doing well enough with eight points from a possible ten, but then so were the Steeldogs doing OK especially with the Cup win three days previously.

 

So where did nine goals come from? And the Jets at home. Well, the first goal came in under a minute from Greg Wood with two more in a minute shortly after. Aaron Connolly managed to stop the flow before the first break, but afterwards the visitors just shovelled in more goals including a third season’s hat-trick for Janis Ozolins with Ashley Calvert and Edgars Bebris also on the score sheet as the Steeldogs disappeared into the sunset.

 

Phoenix 9 – Tigers 1

Hard to see this one coming with the Tigers having picked up a point from the Flames and only losing by a goal to the Bees and the Phantoms by two but scoring six in the process. However, the Phoenix are a power to be reckoned with at the moment, having wins against the Lightning and Wildcats coming into this pairing.

 

The first goal, by Slava Koulikov, came after eight minutes and being unassisted was something of a harbinger of what was to come with Tom Duggan adding two, one short-handed, and Josh Ward bagging his first ever for the Phoenix by which time it was all over and even Jorge El-Hage was given some ice time in the net and the Manchester side increased their home-winning run to eight games.

 

Sunday, and after last nights upset in Slough you couldn’t help wondering what tonight might bring.

 

Peterborough 12 – Tigers 2

Sadly for the Tigers it was more of the same. While their record against the Phantoms is not good with just a penalty win from five games, they had increased their scoring in the process. But in this game everything was turned on its head with a record equalling fourteen goals in a game which, unfortunately, meant the biggest loss in the EPL on goal difference so far this season. Not only that the Tigers were outshot by a ratio of 2-1, and a change of netminder made no difference as Peterborough players almost queued up to get on the score sheet although it was James Ferrara who claimed a hat-trick. To be fair to Telford they did manage a respectable number of shots on goal, but simply didn’t have much in reply like they usually do and a missing Daniel Croft didn’t help in what must be their bleakest hour.

 

Bees 6 – Flames 5 after penalties

Although things between these two sides have become increasingly closer evolving from two easy wins for the Flames to a penalty win, being low in the table the Bees against the leaders was always going to be a concern despite some recent points. However, Bracknell’s captain Rob Lamey had in the week observed that with the return of a couple of injured players the side was, ‘how we were at the start of the season, which is actually when we had a bit more success.’

 

And it must have worked. The Bees took the lead after five minutes and Flames netminder Mark Lee took ten minutes for misconduct but this was after Scott Spearing picked up twelve minutes for a check from behind. Although on even terms going into the first break, a quick exchange of goals early in the middle period with Jozef Kohut adding one short-handed saw the Flames take the lead which they built on in the final stint. But the Bees were not done and replied with three goals although Rempel completed his hat-trick with seconds to spare which forced the game into overtime and penalties where the Bees picked up the two points and improved their home-winning run.

 

Bison 3 – Lightning 2

The Bison aren’t good at beating the Lightning having lost four times until recently when a comfortable win reversed the trend. Last night, the home side with just ten skaters and two netminders had fallen foul of the Wildcats so the Lightning having not a great deal to write home about recently must have been feeling in with a chance.

 

A bit of a scrappy but close first period which saw Alex Mettam take shot in the mask from Nicky Chinn but survive to tell the tale with the stint ending with a goal apiece. Things were upset going into the half-way stage with goals by Chris Wiggins and Kurt Reynolds and while Michael Wales pulled one back to keep things tight it was not tight enough to overcome some wise defensive play from a tiring home side.

 

Steeldogs 2 – Phoenix 1 after overtime

These two sides are fairly even matched with both having achieved an away win, a game with shared points, and the last game a win for the Phoenix at home. So while a prediction might not be a move you would want to put your mortgage on, with both teams doing well currently what is certain is it wouldn’t be a lazy affair.

 

And a lazy affair, it wasn’t. The Steeldogs came out with guns blazing but it was a Ben Wood penalty shot to the Phoenix that separated the sides going into the first break. The second period saw the Phoenix move up a gear and could well have increased their lead had it not been for Ben Bowns in the Sheffield net and Janis Ozolins equalising as things got scrappy. The third continued lumpy and ended on an equal footing but in the overtime period, sink my putt and call me Arnie, it was Ben Morgan that put a dent in the Phoenix run and gave the Steeldogs a record eight-game home winning run.  

 

The league table continues to be an interesting place to be as the Steeldogs move into third spot with a game in hand, and the Jets to face the Wildcats in the coming week with both needing a win; Slough, who recently appointed Jets’ founder Gary Stefan, who retired in 1999 to the position of consultant, will be wanting to recover from their Saturday disaster while the Wildcats will be looking to extricate themselves from the jaws of the Bees. The Flames also face the Bison in the week while the second leg of the EPL Cup semi-final between the Steeldogs and Lightning takes place in Milton Keynes. So lots to still play for.