Marc Johnson’s car jump starts the Storm

Today was the return leg against the junior bison who the storm beat fairly convincingly (8-5) last week. I say fairly because although at times we threatened to run away with it we never quite did. Add to that this week was back in their barn and we a couple of D men light, I’m sure they will be after some revenge.

Well as I was walking out of the dressing room to check something with the other manager, I heard the Zamboni grind to a halt. There then followed that nasty coughing sound as the driver tried to restart it on several occasions, to no avail. It was only about half way through the cut. So we then had the rink personnel pulling the hood up and seeing what they could do, result … nothing. Fortunately we had an ex Basingstoke planet ice man, now MK dad present, he had the nouse to go and get his car, drive it onto the ice and jump start the Zamboni. Result … the Zamboni fired up and finished the cut.

When the first period finally started the game was much more even, if you remember we were 3 up in 3 last week. Today Ryan managed an early shot which was saved and Thomas was quickly into action clearing the puck up to Emma. Matt playing back to help the D also cleared well moments later finding Ryan up ice. Then it was Jacks turn, he fired the puck nicely around the boards, Ryan picked it up, moved in on goal but again saw his shot saved. Matt moved forward trying to put some pressure on the Bison but shot wide. Matt tried his luck again a little later but again the shot was wide, MK were caught a little out of position but a good chase back and interception by Jack saved the day. Macca then picked the puck up mid ice, beat two men and fired on goal but the shot was blocked. Luc tried his luck but the Bison defence was holding strong. The MK pressure was intense though and when Luc crossed to Matt he touch it on to Ashley and Ashley fired goal wards, the netminder couldn’t get there and Ashley had his first of the season, 1-0 on just before 11 minutes. Luc immediately followed this up with a shot of his own but it was saved. Then Matt made a brilliant solo skate up the ice carving his way past three Bison before seeing his shot cannon off the bar. Basingstoke started to fight back and soon Jordan was in action again, saving low to his left. Next Garth made a good interception to prevent a shot and then Douglas was in there whipping the puck from a Bison stick. The period ended with MK on the ascendancy as first Matt broke forward and saw a shot saved and then Ryan did the same, only to see the same result. Shots on goal for that first period were 9-9 but MK had the edge.

Clearly annoyed as so many missed chances, in the first period, MK came out for the second in a changed mood. Straight from the face off Ryan and Matt engineered a break and Matt's shot was very well saved. Then Jack pushed the puck up the line to Ryan and he again crossed for Matt and again the shot was saved. On the third attack Douglas found Matt and this time he made no mistake, 2-0. Less than a minute later as an attack broke down, Ashley picked up the puck cut inside a player and let fly for the corner, 3-0. If that wasn't good enough, just 15 seconds later Luc put Emma in and she buried it, 4-0 and we had played less than 5 minutes of the second period. Matt and Macca then engineered another chance but this time the shot was wide and MK were in danger of being caught at the back, but a great challenge from Ryan stopped the Bison breakaway. To rub salt in the wounds Matt then cut away from the D and slotted home top right, 5-0. The onslaught continued as MK charged the Bison net, Luc moved past a defender found Connor and Emma popped up on the left to tap home number 6 and her second on the 30 minute mark. A couple of minutes later MK changed their Netminder with Jonathan taking over for the remainder of the game. Storm continued to press, Matt hit one wide and then so did Jack. Then a lovely move followed where Macca received the puck on his skates from Matt, he neatly turned to accept it and fired on goal, it was saved but it was nice to watch. Emma was then intent on getting her hat trick but her shot found the side netting. Jonathan was then called into action but he came up big and saved well. Garth defended well in the final minute before Emma saw another attempt saved right on the buzzer.

Another fine MK performance especially in the second period, at the start we were worried that we would just get a 5-0 for an abandoned game; fortunately Mark came to the rescue. Next up and next week it's Haringey at home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stats below

 

 

Match Stats

10:59 1-0 Ashley from Matt from Luc
23:39 2-0 Matt from Jack
24:36 3-0 Ashley unassisted
24:51 4-0 Emma from Luc
28:59 5-0 Matt unassisted
30:04 6-0 Emma from Connor from Luc

Shots on Jordan 10(0) on Jonathan 3(0) on Basingstoke 22(6)

MOM Emma
SOG Ashley