Published: Sunday, 13th January, 2008 17:33
Humdinger at the Hangar
By Observer Sport
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English Premier Ice Hockey League
Slough Jets 7, Guildford Flames 5
THE Slough Jets served up a treat for a packed crowd at The Hangar yesterday (Saturday) – the second time they have produced such a spectacle against the Guildford Flames this season.
Last time out, the Flames beat Slough on penalty shots after fighting back from a 6-3 deficit.
But this time the roles were reversed as the Jets managed an even more improbably comeback after falling three goals behind just 11 minutes into the game.
The victory pegged back the league-leaders and flung the English Premier League title race wide open just as Guildford were threatening to pull away from the pack.
Jets head coach Steve Moria was buzzing with excitement after the game.
He said: “I think that was an unbelievable game to be a part of playing-wise and probably as a spectator.
“When scoring the sixth goal I looked at the crowd and I’ve never seen so many smiling faces. I thought ‘you can’t beat this feeling’.”
The sixth goal proved to be the winner - and what a goal it was.
An incredible piece of improvisation on the part of Paddy Ward saw the defenceman flick the puck through a host of bodies and into the top corner.
However, the most important goal was Moria’s second and the Jets’ third, scored short-handed during a Guildford five-on-three powerplay.
Moria showed great composure in a one-on-one situation at a crucial moment in the match that completed the Jets’ comeback from 3-0 down early in the first period.
“Things like that do lift hockey teams,” Moria said. “The chances of scoring in a five-on-three are almost one in a thousand. That’s when you start thinking ‘we are going to win this hockey game’."
Moria also scored the Jets’ second goal and set up their fourth for Tony Redmond during an incredible second period that saw the game turn on its head.
And he was particularly pleased to have played such an important role.
“I think in the last month my game has been going down-hill slightly,” Moria said. “I’ve been carrying a minor injury that’s been affecting my play. So it was nice to score a crucial goal in a game.”
SLOUGH will be looking to build on the win tonight (Sunday) when they travel to the Peterborough Phantoms.
December's player of the month Zoran Kozic will sit out the game, allowing fellow import Blaz Emersic back into the side after missing the Guildford match.
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Further Details
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