All In Black Milton Keynes Lightning took a fantastic win on the road in Telford tonight, thanks to a Ross Green winner.  Always a difficult rink to go to, this was a great result which continued Lightning’s perfect start to the season, now reaching 7 wins from 7.

Early in the game it was Telford who began with the early pressure, Lightning not quite getting going from the first face off.  It was the Tigers who opened the scoring through Vlad Luka when he jumped on a rebound after 4.10.  Then followed a couple of Telford penalties including a brief 5 on 3 for Lightning, but against the play Watkins was brought down on a breakaway and a penalty shot was awarded.  Luka took it slow and steady, but fired high and wide, missing the opportunity.

With Scott McKenzie still in the bin for his tripping penalty, Lightning equalised with a Powerplay goal scored by Tim Wallace assisted by Sean Norris at 9:51.  A couple of minutes later and Leigh Jamieson was sent to the box for high sticks.  At 11:55, shorthanded, Liam Stewart grabbed his 14th goal of the year to make it 1-2.  But this was a short-lived advantage, as just 30 seconds later Howells made it 2-2 with Jamieson still in the box.  The first period ended 2-2.

Into the second, with not many clear chances, there was just a successfully killed Rio Grinell-Parke penalty on the scoresheet until midway during the period. It took until 33:00 for the next goal, Sam Talbot finishing with great skill to deke Brad Day in the Telford goal, assisted by Tim Wallace and Ed Knaggs.  3 and a half minutes later though, Telford again clawed it back through Bayley Harewood, assisted by Rose and Sam Watkins.  3-3 with 36:28 gone in the game.

The third period began with a short ice-related delay.  Just a couple of minutes into the session, up stepped Ross Green to hammer home when he found himself in front of goal.  He was assisted by Rio Grinell-Parke who had been involved all over the ice tonight.  3-4 with 42:44 gone in the game.

As the game went on, James Griffin went for 2 mins for hooking, which Lightning killed successfully.  Then in the last couple of minutes, Brodie Jesson gave Lightning a Powerplay which they used to help see out the game.  It did require some spectacular saves from Jordan Hedley in the MK net, who was an absolute rock all night, earning him a well deserved Man of the Match award.  Final score, Telford Tigers 3 – 4 AIB MK Lightning.

We are back at home next Sunday, when Bristol Pitbulls head to MK for the first time in the NIHL National.  The game is on Sunday with a special free skate with the players after the game.  For tickets, head over to our website.

Man of the Match: Jordan Hedley

Scorers:

Tim Wallace: 1+1

Liam Stewart: 1+0

Sam Talbot: 1+0

Ross Green: 1+0

Sean Norris: 0+1

Ed Knaggs: 0+1

Rio Grinell-Parke: 0+1