Tigers made to pay for slow start with loss to Milton Keynes Lightning
Autocraft Telford Tigers travelled to Milton Keynes on Saturday to take on the Lightning at their home rink, where they had won twenty-nine straight league games.
Tigers knew they had to be strong defensively to start the game against the free scoring hosts. But within twelve minutes of the face off the visitors found themselves three goals behind.
After four minutes, Lightning took the lead with a power play goal from Ben Brown and two minutes later a break away between Mack Stewart and Callum Field saw Field shoot past Brad Day to double the lead. Then a further two minutes later Toms Rutkis scored a third goal. Tiger’s called a time out immediately after the third goal to break up the momentum.
As the period reached the final two minutes, Telford finally got on the scoreboard. A pass from behind the Milton Keynes’ goal by Scott McKenzie was smashed home by Devon Skoleski for his fifth goal of the season.
The second period opened with more goals from the home side. A poor defensive turnover on the blue line allowed Corey McEwan to score a fourth goal and a fifth goal came shortly after. With Ryan Leese serving a slashing penalty, Jordan Cownie was left unmarked in front of goal and scored with ease.
Tigers hit back immediately with their second goal. Skoleski returned the favour to McKenzie with an inch perfect pass to allow the Tigers’ captain to expertly shoot past Jordan Hedley in the Lightning goal.
With five minutes left of the second period, Telford pulled another goal back. Louie Newell hit a shot that was saved by Hedley but the rebound fell perfectly to him to back hand into the open net.
With Tigers firmly back in the game a strong third period was needed. Tigers missed an opportunity when presented with a power play to start the third period and as has happened too often this season, defensively the team were caught out.
Stewart scored from close range to kill off hopes of a Tigers comeback. Ross Venus then out skated the Tigers’ defence to shoot into the roof of the net to score Lightning’s seventh goal.
Day was replaced in goal for the final eight minutes of the game by back up Matty Bloor.
The home side put further gloss on the scoreline with an eighth goal, five minutes from the end when Martins Susters scored Milton Keynes’ third power play goal of the game.
Final Score: Milton Keynes Lightning 8 Autocraft Telford Tigers 3.
Scorers: Devon Skoleski, Scott McKenzie and Louie Newell.
Man of the match: Scott McKenzie.
After the game Head Coach Tom Watkins, commented, “We didn’t get a great start and were chasing the game from early on but found ourselves in a position three quarters of the way into the second period, two goals behind at 5-3. We then get an opportunity to go on the power play but didn’t take advantage of that opportunity and then we are presented with another power play crossing over the end of the second and start of the third period.
We didn’t change the game, we didn’t capitalise on our chances and we didn’t take that opportunity or advantage when it came our way. These moments made such a difference to the outcome of the game.”
