Depleted Phantoms hold off brave Raiders fightback

Head coach Slava Koulikov paid tribute to his depleted PeterboroughPhantomswarriors following Sunday success over the Raiders.

The city side shrugged off a stack of injuries and survived a third-period scare to beat Raiders in a 10-goal thriller at Planet Ice.

The triumph ensured Koulikov’s men retained third spot in the NIHL National Division and earned a glowing review with an ever-increasing casualty list.

“We knew it might not be the best performance with so many guys missing, and that some things might not come off,” admitted Koulikobv.

“I don’t mind admitting some spells of the game weren’t pretty and it was just about getting through it.

“But other parts were really good. For almost all of the first period our puck movement and team play was great to see.”

Phantoms fell behind inside the opening minute, but responded powerfully with a hat-trick of powerplay goals from captain James Ferrara, red-hot Tom Norton and the excellent Nathan Pollard.

PHANTOMS

6.34 J. Ferrara (PP) ass: Norton

11.35 Norton (PP) ass: J. Ferrara

14.17 N. Pollard (PP) ass: McEwen/C. Pollard

22.22 Padelek (PP) ass: J. Ferrara/Norton 23.44 Weldon ass: Padelek/J. Ferrara 59.40 McEwen (EN) unassisted

RAIDERS

0.58 Novak ass: Sladkovsky/Connolly 16.21 Connolly (PP) ass: Baldock 52.34 Sladkovsky ass: Novak 55.09 Sladkovsky (SH) ass: Lascenko/ Novak

PHANTOMS Nathan Pollard

RAIDERS Aaron Connolly

Aaron Connolly replied for Raiders as they made the most of a numerical advantage to cut the gap to one goal.

Phantoms eased away again early in the second period when they struck twice in the space of 82 seconds.

Ales Padelek thumped in the first before providing the assist for Will Weldon to get on the scoresheet.

Phantoms’ roster was further depleted when young Ross Clarke was pole-axed by an ugly hit from behind by Raiders man Mason Webster in the third period.

Joe Gretton was quick to jump in and drop the gloves with Webster who was then thrown out on a match penalty once the dust had settled.

But Phantoms failed to take advantage of the fiveminute powerplay following the ejection of Webster, and the hosts were fortunate not to see their advantage cut as they coughed up chances.

Raiders did eventually eat into their arrears through Lukas Sladovsky, and the same man then struck again in a short-handed situation to set up a tense finale.

The visitors sacrificed netminder Ethan James in a desperate bid to claw themselves level, but it was a move which backfired as an Olegs Lascenko gaffe gifted Corey McEwen a gift-wrapped preChristmas clincher.