Autocraft Telford Tigers returned to home ice after their third defeat in a row on Saturday night. Tigers had lost to Leeds in Yorkshire and were looking to end a disappointing run of form with a home win.
Leeds were indebted to Sam Gospel in the opening ten minutes of the game as the Leeds’ netminder made two terrific saves to deny Tigers’ forwards.
Telford had two early power play chances but could not score. Leeds showed how it was done on their first power play when Liam Peyton scored with a shot that went in off the crossbar.
Leeds led at the end of the first period, which was harsh on Telford who had played well but could not get past Gospel.
Crucially though towards the end of the first period, Leeds Oli Endicott was called for hooking which meant Tigers would start the second period with ninety seconds of power play time.
Tigers made the extra man count and equalised. David Thomson played the puck from behind the Leeds’ goal to the unmarked Scott McKenzie who slammed the puck past Gospel.
A penalty strewn second period threatened to boil over with both teams being called several times for penalties and there was a physical edge to the game which referees Mathews and Anderson struggled to control.
Tigers took the lead late in the period. Rhodes Mitchell-King delivered a perfect pass from behind the goal for Brynley Capps to hit a first time shot past Gospel and into the net.
The third period started with both teams having chances but it would be Tigers that got the crucial third goal with ten minutes of the game left. Gospel made a save from Tate Shudra’s shot and before he could get back up the puck broke to Tom Byrne who lifted it over the prone Gospel to double the lead.
A needless penalty for boarding by David Thomson gave Leeds the opportunity to get back into the game. However, Tigers would add a fourth goal whilst shorthanded. Capps and Shudra led a 2-on-1 breakaway and Capps passed across the slot to Shudra to shoot low past Gospel for Tigers’ fourth goal.
Any chance Leeds had of making a comeback ended when Edgars Vengis was ejected from the game for a check to the head. Tigers would play the last five minutes of the game on the power play and scored a further two goals to seal the win. Eric Henderson hit an unstoppable shot from the left circle into the top right hand corner of the Leeds’ goal. Then, with thirty seconds of the game left, Thomson hit a shot from the slot that flew past Gospel for Tigers’ sixth goal.
Tigers bounce back from three straight defeats with a well deserved victory.
Final Score: Autocraft Telford Tigers 6 Leeds Knights 1.
Scorers: Scott McKenzie, Brynley Capps, Tom Byrne, Tate Shudra, Eric Henderson and David Thomson.
Man of the Match: Patrick Brown.
After the game Head Coach Tom Watkins, commented, “That was a great game of hockey, a very solid performance, very competitive, physical, loads of energy and thankfully a great result, an important win for us. Defensively we were first class, only giving up 24 shots all game.
“Brad (Day) made a very impressive save off a one timer shot and we only gave up the one goal, which was whilst we were short handed.
“Our special teams were good, ultimately I thought we were rewarded/deserved the goals we got in the third period with the commitment we exerted throughout the game grinding Leeds down and taking the chances that came our way.”
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