Central’s NHL hopes dented

A last-minute goal has dented the Central women’s hopes of making the National Hockey League final, even though they went on to beat Canterbury in a shootout following a 2-2 draw.

With the game decided from the spot, they picked up two points for the win instead of four, and have moved only to fourth on the ladder instead of second.

North Harbour lead the way on 15 points, and though they missed their chance to secure a place in the decider when they lost 2-0 to Capital last night, they should be able to beat a winless Southern team on Saturday and get there anyway.

Behind them are Auckland, on 14, and Canterbury, on 13, followed by Central and Capital, both on 12.

Had Central won, they would have simply needed a win to make it in. Now they need a win and for the Auckland-Canterbury game to go to a shootout.

Sixth-placed Midlands lost to seventh-placed Northland in a shootout earlier yesterday after scoring two late goals to rescue a 2-2 draw, a result which effectively ended their hopes of making the decider.

In the men’s competition, Canterbury, Auckland, Capital and North Harbour will contest tomorrow’s semifinals, though the matchups won’t be determined until Capital play Southern in the final round-robin game today.

Canterbury bounced back from a loss to Central on Wednesday with a shootout win over Harbour yesterday that has left them in top spot.

Capital sit three points back in third, but could yet move up the ladder, depending how they go in their final game, against a Southern team that sits last with one win from five matches.

Auckland sit second, two points behind Canterbury, and Harbour are locked into fourth, with both teams waiting to see whether it’s Canterbury or Capital they face.

Central couldn’t capitalise on their upset win on Wednesday, losing 4-3 to Midlands yesterday.