Cam's spectacular scoring season for Peterborough Phantoms continued in a Sunday smashing of local rivals

After a rare goalless game in a 4-1 defeat at league champions Swindon Wildcats the night before, Hough started the MK match requiring one goal to pass Leeds Knights player Kieran Brown’s scoring record.

It took a while in coming before Hough took a pass from Luke Ferrara in the final minute of the second period and slammed home from close range for his 62nd goal of an outstanding campaign. Hough added another goal in the first minute of the third period and he still has two games of the regular season to go to set a mark that might stand for some time.

Fifth-placed Phantoms host second-placed Hull Seahawks at Planet Ice on Saturday (7pm face-off) before travelling to third-placed Leeds Knights on Sunday. It’s then on to the play-offs. Romford Raiders completed the eight-team play-offs line-up over the weekend.

Standings (all played 52): 1 Swindon 84pts, 2 Hull 71pts, 3 Leeds 69pts, 4 Sheffield 69pts, 5 PHANTOMS 68pts, 6 MK 63pts, 7 Telford 61pts, 8 Romford 55pts, 9 Solway 46pts, 10 Bristol 45pts, 11 Basingstoke 43pts.

There was no sign of the goal spree to come in the early stages on Sunday as Phantoms and MK battled out a goalless first period.

It wasn’t for the want of trying though with home stars Ralfs Circenis and Luke Ferrara denied by fine saves, while Phantoms netminder Hayden Lavigne also made a top stop to thwart Janne Jokinen. Josh Kelly also went close for the visitors.

The teams traded four goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second session before Phantoms stormed clear with three late goals to take a 5-2 lead into the final period.

Janne Laakkonen claimed the opening goal of the game 33 seconds after the re-start with a close range finish, but Sean Norris and Archie Salisbury struck to put the visitors in front only for Morgan Clarke-Pizzo to level quickly against his old club.

Powerplays then proved decisive for Phantoms as Laakkonen and, another former MK man, Dillon Lawrence both converted before Hough sent the home fans into raptures with his record-breaking goal.

Hough scored again less than a minute of playing time later after some excellence from assist king Laakkonen. The Finn now has a staggering 92 assists this season, 15 more than any other player in the league.

Luke Ferrara added goal number seven for Phantoms with a big shot from the blue line and, after Toms Rutkis had scored for MK, Laakkonen completed his hat-trick and the match scoring from close range four minutes from time.

Phantoms had competed well in Wiltshire against the league champions who were seeking swift revenge after a defeat at Planet Ice the previous weekend.

But the city side claimed the only goal of the first period on 16.56 when Ferrara netted with help from Tom Norton and Hough.

Hough was denied a goal by a great save early in the second period before the home side started to flex their muscles. Chris Jones levelled just after the half hour mark and Reed Sayers fired the Wildcats in front three minutes later.

Third period goals for Swindon were scored by Eddie Bebris and Aaron Nell, but Phantoms also had chances as they proved they will be serious contenders for play-off glory.