Fine Phantoms fightback is soured by shootout defeat

Phantoms’ four-game winning streak and 100 per cent home record were both ended on Sunday.

They were eventually pippedafteralengthyexchange of penalty shots at the end of a pulsating contest, but was it a case of a point being gained or one being thrown away?

Given Phantoms were two goals adrift with less than six minutes of regulation time remaining, it was almost certainly a case of the former.

However, despite such a fine show of character and resolve, head coach Slava Koulikov was far from enamoured by the display of his team.

“Did we play well? Not in the slightest and the guys know that, but they produced a massive effort to come back from 4-2 down in the final period to get level,” admitted Koulikov.

“It is always a lottery when it comes down to penalty shots. Of course you need skill, but it took 12 attempts for it to be settled.

“So all in all I have mixed feelings. Yes, it’s probably a good point against a very good Telford team with only one loss this season but there is also no doubt that we could have done better.”

Six of the eight goals (three for each team) arrived in powerplay PHANTOMS

10.00 Stepanek (PP) unassisted 19.52 Billing ass: J. Ferrara/R. Ferrara 54.23 Padelek (PP) ass: Weldon/Billing 57.05 Norton (PP) ass: J. Ferrara/Padelek

TELFORD

7.05 McKinney (PP) ass: Weaver/McKenzie 36.01 Florian ass: Goodison

40.49 Howells (PP) ass: Florian/Goodison 50.57 Florian (PP) ass: Howells/Watkins

MEN-OF-THE-MATCH PHANTOMS

Jordan Marr TELFORD

Brad Day

situations.

Andrew McKinney’s opener and Petr Stepanek’s leveller were two such examples with Phantoms then hitting the front with eight seconds left on the clock in the opening period as Glenn Billing fired through traffic.

Their advantage remained intactuntilagiveawaywaspunished by impressive Tigers import Dominik Florian late in the second session.

Phantoms then endured a nightmare start to the final session with Telford hitting the front inside a minute as Finley Howells pounced on a powerplay. And the hosts saw the deficit double when Florian made the most of another numerical advantage with nine minutes to go.

The visitors were then let down by indiscipline as Ales Padelekhalvedthearrearswith a five-on-three strike – technically six on three as Phantoms boldly pulled netminder JordanMarr–beforeplayer-coach Tom Norton blasted in on another powerplay to level.

Neither side was able to break through again and it was a similar story in overtime where Phantoms superbly killed off a penalty after Will Weldon was called for tripping.

Telford man Scott McKenzie tucked away his side’s opening penalty with that effort cancelled out by Padelek with Phantoms’ third attempt after Martins Susters and Stepanek had both missed.

Florian and Brandon Whistle were both denied by Marr as the shoot-out went into sudden-death.

Susters, Padelek and Stepanek all fluffed their lines for Phantoms with McKenzie and Florian doing likewise but McKenzie eventually settled the contest in the visitors’ favour.