Skoleski overtime winner seals playoff place for Tigers

Tigers could also qualify if Solway Sharks failed to win their game at home to Milton Keynes.

Tigers were comfortably the better side in the first period and deservedly took the lead. Eric Henderson’s pass from behind the goal went into the slot where James Smith was on hand to smash the puck low along the ice past Tyler Perre in the Swindon goal. Tigers doubled their lead when Scott McKenzie benefited when Swindon’s Balint Pakozdi broke his stick allowing Harry Ferguson and McKenzie to break in on goal. McKenzie shot into the top corner of the net for Tigers’ second of the game.

Swindon struck back midway through the second period when Tomaz Malasinski skated past the static Tigers’ defence and shot past Brad Day. Swindon were level five minutes later. Day rushed out of goal to prevent a Swindon attack and he dived on the puck just in time. But instead of freezing the puck he tried an ill advised pass to Devon Skoleski which went to Swindon's Jake Bricknell who had a free shot at the empty net allowing Swindon a gift for the equaliser.

Early in the third period the home side went in front when Aaron Nell deflected a shot past Day and then Pakozdi doubled the lead with a well taken goal.

With ten minutes of regulation time left Tigers reduced the deficit. Mitchell-King’s shot was saved by Perre but Skoleski was on hand to fire home the rebound.

As the game reached the final three minutes, Tigers were level. A terrific shot from Mitchell-King over Perre’s glove and into the top corner of the goal would prove to be the goal that secured a guaranteed point for the visitors, sending the game to overtime and ensuring that Telford would make the playoffs.

In overtime a roughing penalty called on Swindon’s Ed Bradley would prove crucial as Tigers would win the game on the subsequent power play.

Tigers controlled the puck in the Swindon defensive zone. David Thomson picked out the unmarked Skoleski in the right circle. Skoleski skated towards goal unopposed and shot past Perre to send Tigers home with the win and two points.

With Telford now guaranteed a place in the play offs there will still be something to play for in the final game of the regular season as Tigers could still finish in seventh place with a win and a defeat for Romford in their game against Bristol.

Final Score: Swindon Wildcats 4 Autocraft Telford Tigers 5 (after Overtime).

Scorers: Devon Skoleski (2), Rhodes Mitchell-King, James Smith and Scott McKenzie.

Man of the match: Rhodes Mitchell-King.

After the game Head Coach Tom Watkins, commented, “That was a great result for us tonight and that puts us into the playoffs. We started very well for the first half of the game but from the second half we stopped moving our feet, we were too slow to move the puck and created our own problems.

"I have to give credit to James Smith for sticking up for his teammates and getting us going again. We kept focusing on getting the puck to the net, they say good things happen when you do. The equaliser late in the third period won’t be the best goal that Rhodes ever scores but perhaps one of the most important.

"A win for us in Swindon has been a long time coming. I'm grateful to all the travelling fans tonight they were terrific and made a lot of noise which the whole team appreciates."