Rink round-up

Monday, 13th February 2006

Wednesday night's British Knockout Cup action saw Belfast Giants at home to Coventry Blaze, with the visitors getting off to a flying start thanks to ex-Manchester Storm forward Barrie Moore, who found the net after only 15 seconds. Tom Watkins added a second goal after five minutes before Theo Fleury put the Giants on the scoreboard in the tenth minute. Dan Welch restored the Blaze lead two minutes later to make it 1-3, but Shawn Skiehar pulled one back on the powerplay to close out the period 2-3. Curtis Huppe levelled the scores early in the second period, but Joel Poirier's goal just after the halfway point gave Blaze the edge, and they hung on to take the game 3-4.

Newcastle Vipers were hosting Sheffield Steelers in Elite League competition on Wednesday, with two scoreless periods keeping the game on a knife edge. Eventually it was Matt Beveridge who broke the deadlock, only for his effort to be countered by Rod Sarich on the powerplay to take the game to overtime, where the only event was a match penalty for Steeler Martin Masa and a ruled out goal for Viper Rob Wilson, the puck crossing the line after the final whistle. Final score 1-1. Earlier in the day, the Vipers received confirmation that Matus Petricko's suspension for a kicking offence had been extending to four game, which made him ineligible to ice in the Steelers game and in the following weekend's home and away series against Coventry.

The home tie against Coventry took place on Saturday, with the Vipers quick off the mark to secure a two goal first period lead through Paul Ferone and Jonathan Weaver. Pavol Mihalik gave Coventry a lifeline early in the second period but less than a minute later Jan Krajicek cancelled out the comeback with a Newcastle goal. With no further goals and a dance between Jeff Hutchins and Andre Payette, the game ended Newcastle 3 Coventry 1.

Basingstoke Bison's Saturday night fixture saw them hosting Nottingham Panthers, and a scoreless first period gave way to the Panthers Show in the second, with Shaun Sutter opening the scoring on the powerplay followed by markers from Matt Myers and Curtis Bowen to give the visitors a 0-3 lead going into the third period. Basingstoke were determined to get themselves back off the bottom of the table, and began their fight back in spectacular fashion with a goal from Brad Cruickshank just thirty seconds into the third period. Greg Owen added a second goal a minute later, only for the Nottingham defence to tighten up and keep the Bison at bay, the match ending 2-3 to the visiting Panthers.

Edinburgh Capitals seem to be going from strength to strength, posting a home draw against Sheffield Steelers on Saturday in a ten goal thriller. Dino Bauba popped home a powerplay marker in the tenth minute to give the Caps the lead, with Jeff Marshall adding a second before the end of the opening period. Martin Cingel further extended the lead two minutes into the second period before Sheffield got off the mark through Martin Masa, with Kent Simpson adding another two minutes later. Early in the third period Mark Dutiame tied the scores before Masa found the net again to give Sheffield their first lead of the game. The lead was short-lived, with Frederick Oduya putting the cookie in the jar to make it four apiece. Neil Stevenson-Moore put the Caps back in the driving seat with just over two minutes to go in regulation time, only for Dennis Maxwell to re-tie the game five seconds from the final buzzer. Final score 5-5 after overtime.

Sunday night saw the Caps taking to the ice against familiar opposition, with the Sheffield Steelers occupying the away bench for the second night running. Ex-London Racer Jim Vickers opened the scoring for Edinburgh late in the first, and Martin Cingel added a second with a short-handed solo effort in the second period to give Edinburgh a 2-0 lead before Mark Dutiame got Sheffield on the board. Mike Sandbeck restored the two goal lead for the Caps early in the third period, and Dino Bauba made it 4-1 before Dennis Maxwell pulled one back, the game ending 4-2 to Edinburgh.

Coventry's Sunday night was spent at home to Newcastle in the second night of their home and away series against the Vipers, with Dan Welch opening the scoring after 40 seconds for the Blaze, and then adding a second in the sixth minute. Joel Poirier made it 3-0 before the first interval, but a short hander for Matt Beveridge in the second period saw the Vipers get off the mark. Russell Cowley put the Blaze three goals to the good in the 27th minute before Shaun Johnson brought the game to 4-2. The third period saw Andre Payette pick up a game penalty for misconduct before Barrie Moore put the scores at 5-2, sealing the game for the Blaze.

Cardiff Devils had a night they'd rather forget on Sunday, with a home fixture against Befast Giants that saw visiting netminder Mike Minard notch up a 25 shot shut-out. Ed Courtenay opened the scoring for the Giants in the second minute of play, with Theo Fleury adding a second late in the period. Shawn Skiehar scored Belfast's third goal just before the halway point of the game, and this proved to be the last goal, the game ending 0-3 to the Giants.

by Richard Allan

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