Guildford Flames melt Slough Jets title hopes
Rob Stevens • Published 6 Feb 2012 12:11
0 Comments
Share this
See also:
SLOUGH Jets English Premier Ice Hockey League title hopes were dealt a major blow on Saturday after a crushing 5-4 overtime loss in their top of the table clash with Guildford Flames.
The Jets opened up a two-goal lead at The Hangar before Guildford came back to take a 3-2 advantage early in the second stanza.
And, after levelling at 4-4, Doug Sheppard's side were narrowly beaten after less than two minutes of overtime play.
Head coach Sheppard put the hosts in front at 3.32, and despite Guildford managing 15 shots to the Jets 11, the period ended 1-0.
Slough doubled their lead after just 12 seconds of the second period thanks to an Adam Calder strike.
But Rick Plant pulled one back for the league leaders just 37 seconds later and Branislav Kvetan equalised with a powerplay marker at 30.36.
Jozef Kohut put the Flames ahead for the first time in the 32nd minute before Darius Pliskauskas restored parity less than 60 seconds later.
In an action packed second stanza, Nathan Rempel scored the game's seventh goal to make it 4-3 to Guildford at 34.47. And there was still time for Jets' Aaron Connolly to level again in the 39th minute.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead for a third time soon after only for the officials to judge that the period had already ended before the puck entered the net.
Slough dominated the third and final stanza but despite powerplay chances for both teams the period ended scoreless, forcing overtime to be played.
And it took just 109 seconds of play and one shot each before Guildford stole the points when Kohurt netted his second of the night.
Sheppard's side had to bounce back quickly to keep their title hopes alive and did so with a 3-0 home victory over Basingstoke Bison on Sunday thanks a Pliskauskas hat-trick.
The result leaves the Jets seven points behind Guildford with a game in hand and facing three tough matches next week.
Slough welcome Sheffield Steeldogs on Saturday (6:30pm face/off), travel to Swindon Wildcats on February 15 (7:45pm f/o) and host Peterborough Phantoms on February 18 (6:30pm f/o).
**FOR a full report of Slough Jets' victory over Basingstoke Bison on Sunday and all the reaction from head coach Doug Sheppard pick up a copy of Friday's Observer.**
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
