Introducing … Jozef Sladok

Some players win fans over easily.  Their game strikes a chord with the supporters who appreciate what the player brings to the team; they recognise his qualities and commitment to the cause.

Jozef Sladok was one of these players.  After a season with the Edinburgh Capitals, Sladok played 49 games for the Phantoms before getting a move to HCK, in the second tier of Finnish ice hockey.

The reception that Sladok received when he returned to the ice as a Phantom late this season was testament to the fondness for this popular D man.

My thanks go out to Jozef for completing this Q&A in a busy week following his move to Finland!

Name:  Jozef Sladok
Age:  25
Position:  Defenceman

1.  Favourite Hockey Team & reason why:
I don’t have a favourite.  Growing up it used to be the Pittsburgh Penguins because of Jaromir Jagr, and Vancouver Canucks because of Todd Bertuzzi and Donald Brashear. 

2.  How would you describe your game?
I try to play hard every shift whether it’s the first minute of the game or the last minute.  I’m a stay at home defenceman, make good passes, play good hard defence, and do everything for the team to win.

3.  Can you describe your hockey pedigree – where and when did you start the sport, and where have you stopped off on your hockey journey?
I started to play hockey when I was 6 years old in my hometown Zvolen in Slovakia.  I played in Zvolen until junior hockey and then I left to play in the Canadian junior hockey league OHL, where I spent two seasons.  After OHL I spent my first pro year in Corpus Christi in CHL, and then I left to play in UK, where I played for the Romford Raiders, Hull Stingrays, Edinburgh Capitals, and Peterborough Phantoms.  Now I’m in Finland playing for HCK. 

4.  What has been the highlight of your ice hockey career so far?
The highlight for me was getting a chance to go and play for the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL; another one would be winning the OHL with the Whalers in my first season and going to the Memorial Cup in Vancouver. 

5.  You were a hugely popular figure amongst the Peterborough Phantoms supporters.  How do you reflect on your time in the EPL with the Phantoms?
I have a lot of good memories about Peterborough.  I loved it in Peterborough and I still do.  I enjoyed every game in Phantoms jersey, and I enjoyed playing in Peterborough’s ice rink where not many opponents wanted to be. 

6.  To what extent do you feel we saw a different Jozef Sladok in Peterborough this year – more composed, and less likely to drop the gloves and rise to the challenges thrown down by the opposition?  Was this a natural development in your game or team orders?
This season I was an injury cover and when the team needed me to play, I wanted to make sure I played well and gave 100 percent, and I didn’t want to be sitting in the box.  There is no science behind it, I would have fought but there wasn’t many players coming at me asking me to fight. 

7.  What do you know of HCK, the Finnish side based in Kernva, that you have signed for, and the Mestis League?
Well I know that they are a really professional organisation, and have high goals this season. They want to make a long run in play-offs, so hopefully I can help them with that, and be successful. 

8.  How did the move come about – it seemed so quick, from playing against Telford on Wednesday to leaving for Finland this weekend?
My good friend from Finland, Jukka Suutari, contacted me before the Wednesday’s game and asked me if I would like to come to Finland.  I didn’t pay much attention to it as I had a game to play that night.  After the game I got home and spoke to him some more and then the same on Thursday, and that’s when I decided to give it a try and see where it takes me. 

9.  How will your game be suited to this new challenge?
I will not be trying to be something I’m not; I will be myself and play like I always did; play strong defence, penalty kills and be a team player.  Finnish players are all good skaters so I will need to adjust to that and obviously there is no fighting in this league so it will be nice to concentrate on just hockey.  

10.  What does this move now mean for your boxing career?
I go day by day, we will see. Right now I’m playing hockey for rest of the season and then we will see.  Boxing is on the side at the moment.  

11.  Now you are moving on, have you got a message for Phantoms fans?
I would like to say thanks for all good memories, I had a great time in Peterborough. Just keep cheering for the Phantoms; they deserve it, they care and they all try their best even if the things don’t go right.  Thank you.

And finally – Off the bench …

Which Phantom: 

is the best trainer?
The 3 Ferrara brothers – James Rob and Luke 

Is the worst trainer?
Not sure, everyone works hard, but I used to be a bit lazy though!

is the most skilful?
Darius Pliskauskas 

is the toughest?
Welds is up there, but Greg Pick is just another level 

is the funniest?
Again, Greg Pick.  He is not spilling jokes all day, but when he says something it’s worth it. I only had to watch him during practice and I was in good mood 

has the worst dress sense?
I’m not that big on fashion so it’s hard to judge.  Us eastern Europeans have lot to learn in general though 🙂 

is the most annoying on an away trip?
It must be Luke Ferrara.  If he is not picking on young guys then he is watching these 10 year old movies and gets really excited about that.  His volume is really high and he laughs out loud all the way, not caring that other boys might want to sleep. 

I’d like to thank Jozef for answering these questions, and wish him every success for his future career, whether that be in hockey or boxing!

The Peterborough Phantoms can be found online at http://www.peterboroughphantoms.com/

You can follow Jozef Sladok on Twitter at @JozefSladok and the Peterborough Phantoms at @GoPhantoms 

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from you.  Find me on Twitter at  ‏@phil_smith66  and follow for regular Phantoms updates.

And then … the other guy blinked (1)

So at last, after playing 47 out of a 54 games season, the Peterborough Phantoms achieved their first 4 point weekend of the year.

And wasn’t it capped off with style?

A comprehensive 6 goal victory, and first shut-out of the season for goal tender Damien King against the 9^th placed Slough Jets, sent the loyal supporters home pleased with the effort, commitment  and integrity shown by their team.

Reaching the final, coveted, final play-off berth will still be a huge challenge; surely the odds are stacked against the City’s premier ice hockey club, yet this weekend’s performances indicated that there is plenty of fight in the team, and whether the Phantoms reach the end of season party or not, surely there will be some optimism about the future of the club?

The victory against Slough followed a critical win in Bracknell on Saturday night.  Despite the fact that the Bees have fallen to the Phantoms in every match up between the 2 clubs this year, this victory showed the character in Coach Koulikov’s men as they scored 4 unanswered goals to win in the Beehive again.

After 30 minutes and 34 seconds of the game the Bees had extended their lead to a couple of goals.

At this point it would’ve been easy for the enormity of the impending challenge ahead – over half way through a game against play-off rivals, losing 2-0 and potentially 10 points off 8^th place, to lead to the team effectively throwing in the towel.  The play-off light was a mere pin-prick at the end of a pretty dark tunnel.

These are the times when people need to stand up and be counted, and in no uncertain terms this is what the Phantoms did, to earn a vital road win.  Well done to the goal scorers, Soar, Ferrara (Luke), Piatak and Levers, and also to Man of the Match, Damien King.

Momentum with the Phantoms, then, going in to Sunday’s tie, and momentum with the Jets too, on a high after a penalty shoot-out win against the Guildford Flames on Saturday.

Like 2 heavy weight boxers testing each other out at the start of a title contest, the deadlock wasn’t to be broken early on.

The two teams at the foot of the EPL were scoreless after a first period where chances were traded initially, but which saw the Phantoms rack up 21 shots on goal compared to the Jets’ 5.  The stats suggest the Phantoms dominated.  The last time these 2 teams met, in Berkshire, they came up against a netminder in terrific form, ex-Cardiff Devil, Joe Myers.  This time it was Croatian import, Andrej Vasiljevic, who single-handedly rebuffed the Phantoms’ efforts, making save after save.  It should be noted that Vasiljevic was on the roster for a KHL team earlier in the season, and surely has a bright future ahead of him.

The second period continued in the same vein; plenty of Phantoms pressure, outshooting the Jets almost 3 to 1, and more top drawer net minding from Vasiljevic.  With the scores still level at 0 the Phantoms conceded their first penalty, one of those infuriating bench penalties for too many men on the ice, with little over 5 minutes to go in the period.

Despite being a man down, the Phantoms scored their first short-handed goal since a Weldon tally in Bracknell at the start of January.  Marcel Petran raced to the offensive blue line to receive a pass from Darius Pliskauskas and sent a tracer high into the net.  A great strike at point where the team should’ve been vulnerable, though this, and other Jets’ powerplays were ineffective on the evening.

Nearly 36 minutes in to a tense game where no quarter was given, or taken, and the other guy blinked.  At the end of the second period, the Phantoms led by 1.

What followed was a remarkable 3^rd period in which the Phantoms scored the fastest 5 goal salvo in the EPL this year (9 minutes 39 seconds).  After 4 minutes of the period the Phantoms went on a powerplay, but almost conceded short-handed themselves; Mindy Kieras missing the net in a one on one with Damien King following a rapid breakaway.  Phantoms’ fans held their breath as Kieras swooped on the goal, cheering wildly as the puck shot wide of the target.

Less than 3 minutes later and the Phantoms were 3-0 up, with Will Weldon and Luke Ferrara goals separated by 13 seconds, and 4 minutes later saw Weldon score his second of the evening.  Despite Vasiljevic’ stellar, Man of the Match performance, he was replaced by Myers at 4-0, though almost immediately Darius Pliskauskas had stretched the home side’s lead, finishing smartly, assisted by Piatak and Petran.

The scoring was rounded off by Luke Ferrara, some 4 minutes from the end of an incredible game; cat and mouse for the first 2 periods, and the Jets blown away in a period where the Phantoms’ intensity grew, chances were created, and most crucially, against 2 top, top goal tenders, were dispatched with skill.

Marcel Petran was the Phantoms’ MoM, and I would never want to take the award from someone who gives his all on every shift and who has been a game saver so many times.  Nevertheless, I would’ve plumped for Damien King; a shut-out rarely sees anyone but the netminder pick up the end of game beers and Damo did everything required, making saves when the game could’ve gone either way.  Tom Soar deserves a mention in dispatches too; given more ice time in Lewis Hook’s absence, Tom showed a greater physical presence than at any other point this year.

6 points off 8^th place, a game in hand over Bracknell (though that’s a toughie against Manchester) and yet to play in Bracknell, where the Phantoms have won twice already.

They can still make the play-offs, can’t they?

The Peterborough Phantoms can be found online at http://www.peterboroughphantoms.com/

You can also follow the club on Twitter at @GoPhantoms 

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from you.  Find me on Twitter at   ‏@phil_smith66  and follow for regular Phantoms updates.

Introducing … Danny Wood

It gives me great pleasure to present a player Q & A with the Phantoms’ most recent acquisition, Danny Wood.  Danny joined the Phantoms in January from the German side Neusser EV, and can also claim experience in the EPL, Elite League and in the States.

Name:  Danny Wood
Age:  24
Position: Forward

1.  Favourite hockey team & reason why:
Don’t really have one anymore; used to be a Colorado Avalanche/Joe Sakic fan. Since he has retired I’d probably say the Pittsburgh Penguins because of #87 (Sidney Crosby).

2.  Can you describe your hockey pedigree – where and when did you start the sport, and where have you stopped off on your hockey journey?
I started playing competitively at 7 in the Sheffield Jr system.  I then moved onto the prestigious Shattuck St. Mary’s School in Minnesota and graduated from there at 18. That place is a hockey player’s dream and I was very fortunate to play there.  It is a hockey factory and has produced players like Crosby, Toews, Parise, Okoposo, and Derek Stepan.

My next three seasons I was in the Junior A circuit preparing myself to play collegiate hockey.  I spent a year outside of Boston (EJHL), followed by two years split between teams in Minnesota and Michigan in the NAHL.

I committed to play collegiate hockey at SMU in Minnesota and spent two seasons there while I worked on a Biology/Pre-Dental degree.

Last season was my first full professional season and I split time between the Steelers, Steeldogs, and Stingrays. This year I was in Germany until the team ran into financial issues; that league was the highest professional league I’ve played in thus far. The speed and quality of players there was immense for it being the third tier there.

3.  How would you describe your game?  How has your game changed as you’ve become more experienced?
My game has changed significantly over the past five or so seasons. I used to be a very offensive player but now I am more of a playmaker and tend to be more responsible in my own end.

My game has always been built on my skating ability.  In essence, I’m still trying to find and develop my mould in pro hockey.

4.  You’ve played in the EPL and the Elite League in the UK, and in Germany.  How are you finding life with the Phantoms?
There is always an adjustment period when switching teams and the organization as a whole has been great in getting me in and making the transition an easy one.  I’d like for us to be winning more and to be contributing with more points; however, it isn’t due to a lack of effort by the guys.

5.  What have been the highlights of your ice hockey career so far?  
There are many but two stick out the most for me.  Playing in the National Championships for Shattuck was the first; so many players in North America wanted to be part of the team I was on – competing to be the best team in the nation was something surreal at the time.

Secondly, I’d say being the Captain of the NAHL’s Albert Lea Thunder, and being selected to play at the Top Prospects Tournament.  One of the teams we played was the U18 US National Team.

Such good hockey and hundreds of scouts watching every game.  The town I played in that year loved hockey and treated us so well.

6.  What are your hockey aspirations?
To win at whatever level I play at.

7.  Have you got a message for the Phantoms’ fans as we approach the end of the season?
I’ve been very impressed with the attendance and atmosphere at the games.  It gives the team a huge lift when it is noisy and the fans are in the game.  Recently it has been flat, and I agree we haven’t given you guys much to be loud about.

Ultimately, the atmosphere can be that spark the team needs when things aren’t going right.  If the fans can be the spark for us down the stretch, that’ll put us at an advantage.  We are all in the play-off mission together!

8.  One last thing – who do you think will win Olympic gold in the hockey?
Obviously I’m pulling for the US, but at this point it is anyone’s game depending on who comes to play.  The best 4 teams in the world are in the last 4 so that’ll make for a great 4 games.

And finally – Off the bench …

Which Phantom:

is the best/worst trainer?
A couple guys could be nominated but they need confidence so I won’t crush it.

is the most skilful?
Darius (Pliskauskas)

is the toughest?
Have to give Picker the nod now that Slads is gone!

is the funniest?
The Nottingham “massive” are an interesting group.

has the worst dress sense?
Soarsy, by a country mile.  He’s got good hair though – top 5 in the EPL maybe?

is the most annoying on an away trip?
Polar bear Tom – scares all the kids and doesn’t shower.

Welcome to Peterborough Danny; and many thanks for taking the time to answer these questions! 

The Peterborough Phantoms can be found online at http://www.peterboroughphantoms.com/

You can follow Danny Wood on Twitter at @DWood91 and the Peterborough Phantoms at @GoPhantoms 

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from you.  Find me on Twitter at  ‏@phil_smith66  and follow for regular Phantoms updates.

Phantoms fail to kick start the play-off push against resurgent Tigers

The Phantoms wear red in support of the British Heart Foundation

The aftermath of this toothless performance against the Telford Tigers, the league’s in-form side, could be far reaching, both in the short and long term.

By the time the team skated round the rink to acknowledge the sparse crowd’s muted applause, it was clear that the optimism surrounding the Phantoms’ play-off hopes was dissipating rapidly.

Following the disappointing defeat against the Guildford Flames only 3 days before, it was essential that the Phantoms got their act together quickly against a team who had won their 7 previous games.  A win would be hard to come by given the riches that Telford had at their disposal – Miller, Plant and Scott were all present, as were Walker, McKenzie and imports Kiviranta and Kuvuulainen.  This is a team who have swept all before them in the last 3 weeks, and who, despite being bottom at the turn of the year, are now sitting pretty in 5^th place.

Within second of the opening face-off, Tigers’ Scott McKenzie was called for a boarding penalty, much to the pleasure of the home crowd, following McKenzie’s comments about Erik Piatak’s physical approach – Piatak was involved in an incident with McKenzie in October and again against Swindon’s Shane Moore in January, though these incidents are not characteristic of the Slovakian’s play week in, week out.  The resultant powerplay was killed, as were the other 4 that the Peterborough side won on the night.  The Phantoms’ powerplays, so effective in recent weeks, have lost their bite – perhaps they have become too reliant on Marcel Petran, and are not showing enough of a Plan B.

Despite the Phantoms shading the early exchanges, the Tigers took the lead through a strike from former Phantoms’ favourite, Joe Miller, at the end of a pacey passing move, assisted by ex-Jet Dan Scott, and McKenzie.  The Shropshire club extended their advantage with 6 21 left in the first period.  As a powerplay of their own expired, Kuvuulainen deflected a blue liner past the hapless King, well screened by the Telford forwards.

The second period saw the Tigers apply concerted pressure on the Phantoms’ net.  The home side’s powerplay continued to stutter, with the Phantoms nearly conceding a short-handed goal on several occasions.  Pliskauskas, so often deadly in the offensive zone, was on hand to smuggle the puck off King’s goal line to prevent the Tigers extending their lead, but the killer blows were dealt early in the third period, firstly by Davies, and finally by Walker, whose shot from the blue-line beat everyone to conclude the scoring.

Visiting netminder, Thomas Murdy, returning to Peterborough for the first time since leaving the Phantoms in the December shake-up was rarely troubled, and shut out the misfiring Peterborough forwards.

Final score:  Peterborough Phantoms 0-4 Telford Tigers

At the end of December these 2 teams met in an enthralling basement clash at the Peterborough Ice Arena.  This tie was a world apart – a small midweek crowd had braved the elements, apprehensive following the Guildford defeat, and had nothing to cheer bar the fan who won Slava Koulikov’s British Heart Foundation shirt an auction, for £205 (well done that man, a great cause).  In the weeks following that 5-3 win, Telford’s run has seen them pick up 20 points compared to the Phantoms’ 11; the Tigers’ form is excellent, and until last weekend the Phantoms’ form was good too, yet the clubs look like they are heading in different directions.

In the local press Koulikov has acknowledged how poor this performance was, and suggested that there was little in the way of competitiveness from the team.  I’m sure the fans left at the end of the game would agree.  For too long in the game the Phantoms didn’t get out of first gear, and ultimately couldn’t compete with an efficient, if unspectacular Tigers side.

More telling is Koulikov’s assertion that some of the team looked like they didn’t want to be playing.  And this is where the supporters will have no sympathy; the Phantoms may not be a big budget side, but they have competed with the top teams in this league this season, and have the skill to do so again.

Before the game, Koulikov suggested that 7 wins out of the remaining 12 would be needed to reach the play-offs.  Make that an unlikely 7 out of 11 now.  This weekend sees the Phantoms involved in just one game, away against league leaders Manchester, but next weekend it is essential that 4 points are taken, against fellow 8^th position battlers, Bracknell and Slough.  By the time those fixtures are played out, we’ll have a really good idea of whether there is any chance of making the end of season party.

There are 2 games against Bracknell to come – with a decent run of form, and victory in those fixtures in the Beehive, there is still a chance of 8^th place.  Let’s start with a good showing against the Phoenix.

Footnote:

It looks like things have just become even more difficult for the beleaguered Phantoms.  Jozef Sladok, Slovakian D man and erstwhile boxer, has joined the Finnish club, HCK, with immediate effect.  So thanks to Slads, a hugely popular figure amongst Phantoms’ supporters, and good luck too.  As for the Phantoms – I’m expecting James Ferrara or Marc Levers, when fit, to drop back to defence to fill the hole that Sladok’s departure leaves.

The Peterborough Phantoms can be found online at http://www.peterboroughphantoms.com/

You can also follow the club on Twitter at @GoPhantoms

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from you.  Find me on Twitter at @phil_smith66 and follow for regular Phantoms updates.

Phantoms’ play-off hopes dealt a blow after a blank weekend

After two consecutive weekends that featured heavy road defeats and courageous come-backs, the wheels came off the play-off wagon this week as the Peterborough Phantoms suffered defeats to the Steeldogs in Sheffield on Saturday, and at home to the Guildford Flames on Sunday.  There is now a 6 point gap to eighth placed Bracknell, though the Phantoms have 2 games in hand over the Berkshire club, and still have to visit the Beehive 2 more times before the season is over.  The points are still there to be won, and a play-off berth is not beyond the realms of possibility, but with games quickly running out, and with half of the remaining fixtures against the Flames, Manchester, or MK, there is much to be done if we are to leap frog over 2 of the other strugglers.

An empty IceSheffied before the action starts

This has certainly been an exasperating weekend for the Phantoms’ support, who once again turned out in terrific numbers in Sheffield, despite the not inconsiderable journey and foul weather; and again to pack the old barn on Sunday.  Many would’ve assumed that the game against Guildford would’ve been a tough one – the Flames, after all, are not 3^rd in the table for nothing, and games against the ‘Dogs provide their own difficulties, yet the games this weekend slipped away from a Phantoms side that struggled to show the intensity that had been seen in recent weeks in Bretton.

Warm-up at IceSheffield

Saturday

Games against the Steeldogs are usually entertaining affairs.  Andre Payette, the ‘Dogs Canadian player coach, is the epitome of the bad guy in the old Westerns.  He prowls, snarls and imposes himself physically; the only surprise is that the Steeldogs Gang don’t always wear the black outfits more usually associated with the bandits in the movies.

More often than not, when Andre ices, you are in for a physical affair, and this fixture was no exception.

The danger in writing these pieces is that you favour your own side; the opposition are always the bad guys, whilst your own team can do no wrong.  It can end up as the bitter rant of the losing side.

So let’s put that to bed straight away.  The Steeldogs have a number of talented players, who can play a fast paced passing game.  They have one of the best netminders in the league in Sedlar, and Korhon, Bebris, Hirst, Wood and Morgan all know their way to goal.  They also know how to mix it up, and of course there is a physical side to the game; you have a fair idea of how the Steeldogs will play, and you need to find a way to combat their aggressive approach.

By the time that Darius Pliskauskas netted the Phantoms’ 3^rd goal midway through a low key final period, the result of the game was something of a foregone conclusion.

The Phantoms had left themselves too much to do in the 3^rd following a salvo of 3 ‘Dogs goals in 2 minutes as the middle period was in its closing minutes.  Pliskauskas’ strike reduced the arrears, but the 6-3 margin was too much to claw back; a Phantoms’ victory would’ve brought the ‘Dogs back into the play-off scrap, but, alas, the Phantoms’ efforts were not enough.

A moment in the 36^th minute encapsulated the Phantoms’ season.

Trailing 3-1 after a first period that saw the Sheffield side add 2 goals to a 10 second flyer, a raft of penalties, a Petran goal after strong work from Piatak and Luke Ferrara, and instances where the Phantoms appeared to be victims of the darker arts, the away side did well to pull the score back to 3-2 through Ferrara (Luke) after 33 minutes.

Three minutes later, after 36 minutes, Marc Levers missed an opportunity to equalise.  When the puck came loose, the Steeldogs broke quickly, went straight to the other end and Korhon scored the first of 2 Sheffield goals in 8 seconds, to see a game that was within grasp snatched away from the visitors.  From almost level, to 5-2 down, within the blink of an eye.

On the evening, the Phantoms outshot the ‘Dogs, but chances came and were spurned, and the trio of 2^nd period goals were enough to see off their challenge.  The Phantoms couldn’t cope with the combative approach adopted by the home side and relatively little was called by the officials.  Sladok was goaded (I get it), Lewis Hook appeared to be given special attention in the first (unnecessary), and Petran, frustrated by the ‘Dogs all night, limped from the ice after what appeared to be a pretty high check.

Whatever people might say about the Steeldogs’ style of play, they have the will to win, and executed their game plan well.

See?  Sounds like sour grapes doesn’t it?

Final Score:  Sheffield Steeldogs 6-3 Peterborough Phantoms

Sunday

Another bumper crowd, boosted by the visit of members of the military and 3 local primary schools, saw the Phantoms (sporting new shirts supporting the British Heart Foundation) and Flames engaged in a frenetic opening period, which remarkably finished goalless.  If anything, the Flames edged the first 20 minutes, though the Phantoms managed to keep the reigning EPL champions at bay.

After two minutes of the middle period, Josef Sladok lost possession on the Flames’ blue line, and on the resultant breakaway, the veteran, Longstaff, opened the scoring.   Darius Pliskauskas, a worthy Man of the Match for the home side, showed lovely stick handling, but little came off; passing became disjointed, and following a ricochet in neutral ice, Campbell scored another for the Flames.  Insult was added to injury when Kristofferson picked up a loose pass in the defensive zone, and swept home with only 2 seconds of the period left.

Three down, and with it all to do in the final period, the Phantoms came up short.  After 43 minutes, Pliskauskas netted after a fine run from Piatak, but further inroads into the Flames’ advantage couldn’t be made.  The industrious Wood hit the bar at a time when Phantoms’ pressure almost yielded a break through, but for a second successive game, the final period deficit was too much to overcome.

The Phantoms’ powerplay, so effective in recent weeks, was snuffed out by the Flames, though credit should also go to the Guildford PK unit.  The chances were there again, but the forwards couldn’t put them away.  Defensive lapses and individual errors were punished by a quick, powerful Guildford team.

Final score:  Peterborough Phantoms 1-3 Guildford Flames

This was always going to be a tough couple of fixtures, but the Phantoms weren’t strong enough to prevail against Sheffield or Guildford.  The teams’ tendency to show middle period weaknesses was exposed again, reinforcing that bottom of the table position.

At the death Marc Levers was helped from the ice after a collision with the boards, and Marcel Petran looked as though he was in discomfort.  Hopefully, both will be fit for the coming fixtures.

In form Telford visit Peterborough on Wednesday, sitting in a much prettier (5^th) position than when they last visited in late December.  A repeat of that 5-3 Phantoms win would be nice, before a visit to Altrincham and the Manchester Phoenix on Saturday.

The Peterborough Phantoms can be found online at http://www.peterboroughphantoms.com/

You can also follow the club on Twitter at @GoPhantoms

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from you.  Find me on Twitter at @phil_smith66 and follow for regular Phantoms updates.

Repeat performance …

This weekend the Peterborough Phantoms served up results that echoed those of a week ago – a heavy defeat on the road on the Saturday, and an exciting, battling showing at home on Sunday.  Last week Swindon dished out the beating, only for the Phantoms to rally to beat Basingstoke, this week the Slough Jets deservedly won at home, before the Swindon Wildcats succumbed in Bretton.

The Hangar, Slough

The result means 2 points separate the bottom 3 clubs, Bracknell, Slough and Peterborough (in that order), with the Bees having played 2 games more than the Phantoms.  Another weekend gone and the Phantoms are still bottom, and the play-off places remain tantalisingly close.

In truth, the victory against the Aaron Nell inspired Swindon Wildcats rescued a weekend that had shown every sign of seeing the club wave goodbye to the play-off race.  Returning to Slough for the first time since joining the Phantoms in December, Coach Koulikov must’ve been disappointed with the team’s showing.

For those supporters who haven’t been to Slough before, it isn’t called ‘The Hangar’ for nothing.  The rink is compact and relatively bare, with 5 or 6 rows of bench style seating tiered with at a very shallow angle, giving spectators little height with which to see the action on the ice.

On this occasion the arena seemed sparsely attended, with the Jets’ fans perhaps apprehensively wondering whether the Phantoms would overhaul them in the league.  They shouldn’t have worried.  The game started evenly enough, with the Phantoms appearing to play with a cautious and cagey approach, perhaps understandable as they   were the away side.

Padelek opening the scoring after 6 minutes and Tvrdek extended the Jets’ lead a couple of minutes later.  The Phantoms were rocking; a flurry of penalties were called (Levers & harshly, Sladok), and though Koulikov saw a 1 on 1 well saved by Myers, the Jets had further chances to extend the lead, hitting the post and Mindy Kieras missing an open goal.  The Jets were 2 up at the first buzzer, with the Phantoms on the ropes.  The first goal of the second period would be crucial.

The Phantoms upped their intensity from the tame showing in the first period and pushed hard for the goal that could swing momentum back in their favour.  Chances fell to Luke Ferrara, Pliskauskas, Soar and Levers, but it was the Jets that struck again, Waller beating King high on the glove side, and Padelek swiftly added another, on a powerplay after Will Weldon was called for tripping.  After 31 minutes our old friend Alan Lack compounded the Phantoms’ misery; a blue line powerplay goal that absolutely finished the games as a contest.

King saves the Padelek penalty shot

The Phantoms scored through Danny Wood’s first for the club, and again through Pliskauskas, to reduce the deficit, and Damien King spectacularly saved a Padelek penalty shot, before Tvrdek notched an empty net goal.

Final score 6-2.

The evening was a pretty chastening experience.  Despite being on a good run, and surely going into the game with some confidence after beating Basingstoke the week before, it never really felt as though the Phantoms got out of first gear against a side that we should’ve competed with far more.  At the start of the first period, and in the second, there was little between the teams, but the Jets took their chances and were able to control the game.  On the other hand, Phantoms chances went begging, and they came up against Joe Myers, a top quality netminder who has just been unceremoniously released by the Elite League’s Cardiff Devils.

Myers caught everything, gave very little up in terms of rebounds, and was a worthy Man of the Match.  Koulikov and Pliskauskas were returning to Berkshire for the first time since they became Phantoms , and are still no closer to knowing which one of their teams this season will make the top 8.

Moving on to Sunday …

The game against the Wildcats was everything that the game against Slough wasn’t.  A bigger, noisy home crowd cheered a much more revved up Phantoms side to a 3-0 lead by the end of the first break.  All the 17s:  #17 and captain, James Ferrara opened the scoring on 17 minutes 17 seconds, to be followed quickly by a Darius Pliskauskas brace, the first after Marcel Petran skated coast to coast to set the Lithuanian up, before Pliskauskas unleashed a bullet moments later beating Stevie Lyle up high.  The Phantoms were on fire and couldn’t have wanted the period to end.  After the disappointment of the night before, this period, possibly more than any other in recent weeks was a real statement of intent.

The teams traded penalties at the start of the second period and Danny Wood almost extended the Phantoms’ lead on short-handed breakaway, but it was Sandvik who notched for the Cats following a rebound to reduce the arrears at the end of the period.

After 10 minutes of the final period, Jonas Hoog and Ryan Watt had levelled the scoring.  Momentum was firmly with the Wildcats, clawing back a 3 goal deficit left the home side reeling.  The game could’ve gone either way; the Wildcats have the offensive weapons to trouble any side in the EPL, and were forcing the Phantoms onto the back foot, before a couple of penalty calls on the Cats turned the game to the Phantoms’ advantage.  Lyle saved brilliantly from an initial opportunity, before James Ferrara swept home as the Phantoms swarmed around the veteran netminder’s goal to score the final, and decisive goal, finally making their man advantage count.

In the final minute the Cats pulled Lyle to try to force the equaliser, to no avail.

Final score:  4-3.

Home ice advantage, yet again, swings it for the Phantoms.  The performance was everything that the home support would wish it to be, and keeps the team in the hunt for 8^th spot.  The team were committed; they played with pace and power, defended well and took their chances.  Hutchinson and Piatak had returned to the ranks and contributed significantly as the Nell, Hoog, Sandvik and Kostal juggernaut was stalled.

It is worth noting that against the Cats there were only 24 shots on King (compared to the 42 on Lyle), and in Slough, despite the final result, there were fewer shots on King than Myers.

Given that Nell has taken the EPL by storm since returning to Swindon in late December, and he and Jan Kostal lead the ‘points per game’ averages table, it is testament to the Phantoms defence that the pair didn’t score anything in this game.

Can the Phantoms get anything in Sheffield and at home to Guildford next weekend?  The Steeldogs come off a single game weekend where they lost 4-3 to Basingstoke, in a game with 110 penalty minutes, and the Flames are inconsistent.  With the Jets playing the Bees again, the Phantoms need a couple of points to stay in touch.

The Peterborough Phantoms can be found online at http://www.peterboroughphantoms.com/

You can also follow the club on Twitter at @GoPhantoms

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from you.  Find me on Twitter at @phil_smith66 and follow for regular Phantoms updates.