Knights and Hull still have work to progress

LEEDS Knights suffered a slight setback in the defence of their NIHL National play-off title – but still remain well-placed to make it to Coventry for a second year running.

They were edged out at Peterborough Phantoms who, ahead of Sunday night’s rematch at Elland Road Ice Arena, prevailed 3-2 after a shoot-out in Cambridgeshire on Saturday night.

The Knights had looked well-placed to maintain their 100 per cent start to the postseason when, after a goalless first period, they found themselves 2-0 ahead by the time the second intermission came around.

Matt Haywood got the ball rolling when he broke the deadlock at 23.25, the lead doubling in the 39th minute when Jordan Buesa fired home on the power play.

But Peterborough – beaten six times in six meetings with the Knights during the regular season – produced a stirring third-period fightback.

They halved the deficit when Austrik Mitchell-King beat Sam Gospel at 46.06 and it was allsquare just under three minutes later when Callum Buglass struck.

Further chances came and went at both ends but the game eventually required a shoot-out to determine who would get the extra point.

Mac Howlett, pictured, hit the spot for the Knights, but he was the only one, Mitchell King and Luke Ferrara finding the net to ensure the Phantoms topped the group standings after three games. Hull Seahawks picked up their first points in Group A after hammering hosts Bees IHC 11-5.

It was a welcome return to form for Matty Davies’s team after they had started their post-season campaign on a low note with back-to-back defeats to Leeds on the opening weekend.

After taking the lead through Declan Balmer with just 23 seconds on the clock, Hull were left playing catch-up for the rest of the period, Owen Sobchak, Bobby Chamberlain and Emil Svec on target.

The dominant Seahawks went into the second intermission 8-3 ahead with Sobchal completing his hat-trick.

In the Elite League, Sheffield Steelers were last night in Fife in the second leg of their play-off, having won 8-3 on Friday.