Recapping Week 3 Of The NIHL Playoffs
The Leeds Knights will face the Milton Keynes Lightning and the Swindon Wildcats will face the Peterborough Phantoms in the two semi-final games.
Playoff Week Three Recap:
Leeds Knights Vs Peterborough Phantoms
On Saturday night the Knights not only secured their spot at Coventry but also topped the group with a 5-1 victory in Peterborough. Finn Bradon with two goals to seal the victory. This meant that the Phantoms had to win on the Sunday if the Seahawks were to beat the Tigers. And Slava’s team did just that with a 5-3 victory in Leeds. Two goals in the third period from Speirs and Salem saw the Phantoms book their spot in Coventry to try and defend their crown.
Hull Seahawks Vs Telford Tigers
The Seahawks need two victories to give themselves a chance at making Coventry and Saturday night was a thriller. The Tigers taking a 6-3 lead in the third period. However the Seahawks battled all the way back into the game tying it 6-6 sending it to overtime. No goals were scored in the five minutes meaning it would go to a shootout where it would be Jason Hewitt who scored the winning shootout goal. On Sunday night there were even more goals with the Tigers ruining the chances of making Coventry as they ended their season with a 9-7 victory on home ice. Seven different goal scorers for the Tigers which also ended their crown Seahawks season.
Swindon Wildcats Vs Romford Raiders
The Wildcats needed just a win on home ice to secure their spot At Coventry and all top the group and they did just that with a comfortable 6-3 victory. Nell with two goals on the night including the game winning goal in the second period. Sundays game was a dead rubber but a chance for Romford to end their season on a high and the Wildcats a chance to make it 6/6 wins. It would go all the way to a shootout where Glenn Billing scored the winning goal to keep the Cats unbeaten going into Coventry.
MK Lightning Vs Sheffield Steeldogs
With the Wildcats winning on the Saturday night it meant the Lightning just needed one win over the Sheffield Steeldogs, but they ended up winning both games. On Friday night they cruised to a 5-1 win in Sheffield and on Saturday then came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 on home ice with Tim Wallace coming back into the lineup and scoring twice on the Friday night.
