Phantoms responded to their disappointing home defeat on Saturday evening by exacting revenge on the Sheffield Steeldogs thanks to an overtime winner at Ice Sheffield on Sunday evening.
Phantoms were off to the perfect start with Ales Padelek giving them a rare first period advantage and an early second period powerplay opportunity also provided a rarity in a powerplay finish from James White to double Phantoms lead. The home side launched the kitchen sink at Phantoms to try and get a foothold in the game and that man Nathan Salem made the breakthrough with a shot from a tight angle at 35:57. All the momentum was with the Steeldogs but, despite Phantoms icing without D-man Rob Ferrara, the home side were unable to claw back Phantoms slender lead going into the second break.
No doubt the message would have been to keep Dogs at bay at the start of the final period but that plan fell apart after just 46 seconds when Milan Kolena fired home to tie the game. With a significant shots on goal advantage in their favour, Steeldogs looked to have turned the game in their favour but Phantoms were in no mood to roll over and stayed disciplined and determined to take the game into overtime.
The sudden death five minute period was disrupted by penalties called late in regulation time with the 3on3 start becoming 3on4 in Phantoms favour for most of two minutes but it was back on even handed play with less than a minute to go when Glenn Billing skated in to bury the game winner and secure maximum points.
For the second night running, Petr Stepanek collected the MOM award for Phantoms.
The result leaves Phantoms needing two points from their back to back games with Hull next weekend to secure a semi-final place and three points to win their qualifying group after Swindon’s defeat in Telford tonight.
Game stats HERE