Milton Keynes Lightning 5-4 Peterborough Phantoms (OT)
lifestack Milton Keynes Lightning opened pre-season with a dramatic 5-4 victory over Peterborough Phantoms at Planet Ice Milton Keynes on 12 September, the match settled by an overtime strike from Kell Beattie at 60:45. The game drew 2,175 supporters for a fast, end-to-end contest in which the home side out-shot the visitors 50-16.
Peterborough drew first blood when Luke Ferrara finished on 03:51, but Bradey Johnson levelled for Lightning at 12:15, assisted by Liam Stewart. Dominik Gabaj restored the Phantoms’ lead late in the opening frame to leave the score 2-1 at the first break.
The second period produced four goals. David Thomson converted at 20:50 to square the game, then Stewart gave MK the lead on 25:53. Adam Berg hit back twice for Peterborough — at 27:20 and again on 33:25 — and the teams went to the final interval with Peterborough holding a 4-3 advantage.
Carter Hamill drew the hosts level on 46:24 with a finish from a Jake Hayward assist, and with neither team finding a decisive goal in the remaining minutes the contest moved to sudden death. Beattie, who had been a constant presence on the blue line all evening, finished the game at 60:45 when he profited from a slick move worked by Danny Weight and Bradey Johnson to claim the winner and the 5-4 victory.
Jordan Hedley carried the goalkeeping duties for MK, finishing the night with four goals against from 60:45 of ice time. Matt Hennessey was between the pipes for Peterborough and conceded five. The shot tally underlined the home dominance in possession and territory, Lightning registering 50 attempts to the Phantoms’ 16.
Special teams played a part: the official game summary records MK with two powerplay goals. Penalties were relatively limited overall, though Carter Hamill and others each spent time in the sin-bin during a physical second and third period.
The win is a welcome slice of momentum as the squad builds towards the season. Head Coach Pete Russell will have taken positives from the attacking output and the way the players responded after conceding a two-goal start, while the defensive group and goaltender will no doubt review the ways to tighten up despite the result.
Supporters can find the full set of home dates for the 26/27 campaign in the 26/27 home fixtures, ahead of the new season.
