When a team makes it clear that they intend to win everything this season and come to Bretton on a five game winning streak, then challenges don’t get any bigger and tonight’s visit of Hull Pirates was going to push Phantoms to the limit but the challenge was met with a hugely disciplined performance laced with some very neat hockey at times.
No goals in the opening period as both netminders stood up well in an excellent, end to end game but Hull made the breakthrough on 22:10 when Jordan Fisher was left in acres of space to beat Jordan Marr from in front of goal. Phantoms looked rattled at first with Marr having to pull off a string of sharp saves but Phantoms soon settled and took the game to Pirates with some incisive tape-to-tape passing that had the beating of the Pirates D but not the beating of import netminder Tomas Fucik who stood on his head to keep Phantoms out. Deservedly, Phantoms did tie the game on 31:10 when a nice fake shot threw Fucik and Tom Norton was on hand to finish sharply in tight on the back post.
After that and throughout the final period, it was largely Phantoms v Fucik but the outstanding netminder managed to get a piece of everything that came his way and the game went to overtime. Pirates looked content to hold on during the extra period, not offering a single shot on goal but Phantoms continued to come second in the battle with the impressive Fucik.
Penalty shots saw Corey McEwen beating Fucik with a very quick release, Ales Padelek bouncing one off the post and Jordan Marr keeping out all three Pirates efforts …… victory for Phantoms, hard earned but very much deserved !
MOMs went to both netminders.
An excellent game of hockey between two good teams but the SOG stats show just how important Tomas Fucik was to his team ….. without him, Phantoms would undoubtedly have skated away with a much more decisive scoreline. Easily Phantoms best performance at Bretton this season. The passing was much more accurate than last time out and that, coupled with great composure on the puck and disciplined D, served up a very enjoyable spectacle for those watching and promises much for the season ahead.
Game stats HERE
Coach Koulikov’s thoughts HERE
Captain James Ferrara’s thoughts HERE