They say that the only thing that matters in a title race like this one is that you leave the ice with maximum points so tick that particular box ….. one down seven to go !
That aside, this was a shockingly poor performance from Phantoms on a night where tactically and individually they looked anything like title contenders. Some credit has to go to the Bees who played the entire game with an energy that Phantoms lacked and who completely destroyed Phantoms over elaborate transitional play by simply getting in their faces and fore-checking the life out of them.
Passes were going astray from the off which made their determination to continue over passing even when completely clear in the shooting lanes completely baffling. Alex Mettam in the Bees goal was not exactly wielding a hot glove and pucks were bouncing around his crease on the few occasions he did face rubber but still Phantoms failed to work out that more shots would likely deliver more goals.
Bees deservedly took the lead in the middle period and it required an old-skool solo skate from Darius Pliskauskas to tie the game even if Nathan Pollard nudged the puck over the line. Expectations were that Phantoms would simply overpower Bees in the final period but 38 seconds after the puck was dropped, they were behind again as Shaun Thompson capitalised on a 3on2 break as Phantoms failed to backcheck.
As the clock ticked down, Phantoms play became more frantic with only the heroics of Euan King keeping Bees from extending their lead. At the other end, it was more of the same as Phantoms conjured up more passes where shots should have been the only option. In the end it was captain James Ferrara who decided to scrap the failing tactics and just get his head down on a blast from the blue-line and it was 2-2 with just over three minutes left.
Overtime was simply frightening as it always is. There was way too much at stake to be playing crazy 3on3 hockey and although Phantoms came close to bundling home a couple of loose pucks, it was the Bees who looked more likely to score. Inside the last twenty seconds, an exhausted Phantoms were left for dead by not one but two 1on1 breaks but on both occasions Euan King came up with huge saves to take the game to penalty shots.
Ales Padelek scored on Phantoms first shot, Shaun Thompson scored on Bees second shot to tie it at 1-1 and it was down to Darius Pliskauskas and Euan King to wrap it up in round three. Pliskauskas defied the cynical suggestions from the fans that he might round Mettam and then look for a pass by neatly tucking away his shot off the inside of the post and Euan King was way too cool to be beaten by Bees final effort and that was it ….. two points !
With Bison thrashing Swindon tonight, it really is now a two team title race and if it wasn’t strictly true before, it certainly is now …… Phantoms have to win their last seven games starting tomorrow night at Streatham who are another hard skating, hard working team.
Game stats HERE