Bees do overtime to seal second
BRACKNELL BEES are up to second in NIHL Division 1 South after two high-scoring victories over the weekend.
Bees, who have won every league game since their opening day loss to Peterborough Phantoms, were made to work hard on both Saturday and Sunday evenings, but came through to win
6-5 and 7-6 against London Raiders and Invicta Dynamos respectively.
Scott Spearing’s men made the trip to Lee Valley Ice Centre on Saturday to take on the Raiders for the first time since 2010 and included Ben EaleyNewman and Jack Hayes in their side with Alex Barker and Steve Osman missing.
Bracknell started the quicker of the two teams with Frankie Bakrlik and Shaun Thompson linking up well while Tom
Avery was excelling at the back.
But it was Raiders who broke the deadlock with a minute to go in the first period with former Bee JJ Pitchley striking home after being left free in front of goal.
The scores were quickly levelled after the restart as Avery slashed a wrist shot past teenage netminder Zachary Grandy-Smith, only for Juraj Huska to put the hosts back ahead.
Back came Bracknell, pulling the scores back to 2-2 when Bakrlik’s wayward shot rebounded kindly into his path to fire in.
Spearing himself then put Bees ahead for the first time on the night after netting on the breakaway.
But with both defences struggling, London quickly equalised going into the third period with Marek Nahlik doing the honours.
A minute into the third saw Bracknell move 4-3 ahead when Josh Martin returned from his penalty and latched onto a loose puck.
However, the game swung back Raiders’ way with Huska left all alone to make it 4-4.
Bracknell eventually got some sort of a grip of the contest, going 6-4 up with Bakrlik and Martin converting.
Josh Connelly pulled one back, but Bees held on to win 6-5.
And the game followed a similar pattern on Sunday evening at The Hive with Bakrlik’s four-goal haul proving key to help Bracknell come from behind to earn another narrow victory.
Netminder Alex Mettam was given the night off while Thompson was also missing due to family commitments as Osman and Barker continued their spell on the sidelines.
Bakrlik broke the deadlock almost immediately after receiving the puck from Harvey Stead. Moments later, James Galazzi and Mason Webster dropped gloves with punches thrown from both as Galazzi was wrestled to the ice.
Tom Ralph equalised for Invicta on eight minutes and after numerous missed Bracknell chances, the visitors snuck 2-1 up as Webster tucked in.
George Norcliffe pulled the scores level shortly into the second stanza, and he levelled up again at 3-3 after Adam Rehak had beaten netminder Danny Milton.
Bakrlik then added his second of the evening, only for Dynamos to turn it around and go 5-4 ahead going into the final period with goals from Justin Robinson and Tom Ralph.
Milton took a body shot which kept him down for several minutes, but he soldiered on to finish the game, and he only conceded once more as Louis Calvin put Invicta 6-5 up after Galazzi had equalised again.
But from there, Bees turned the game around as Bakrlik brilliantly equalised and the same man secured the win in overtime.
Bracknell play twice again this weekend, travelling to Swindon Wildcats on Saturday (6.15pm) before welcoming Raiders to The Hive on Sunday (6pm).