Life is just perfect for Peterborough Phantoms as wonderful winning streak goes on

The rampant city team - who were able to employ a full roster for the first time in an injury-hit season - stretched their wonderful winning streak to nine games by seeing off Raiders in an NIHL National Division clash at Planet Ice last night (February 16).

The final 6-1 scoreline didn’t actually tell the full story of a hard-hitting fixture in which the struggling visitors unleashed far more shots than their high-flying hosts.

But they couldn’t knock the Phantoms train off track as a flurry of second-period goals and a clinching double-salvo early in the final session ensured Slava Koulikov’s men maintained their faint title hopes and continued their sizzling form with an NIHL National Cup final also looming large on the horizon.

“It was a really good game between two teams playing hard-working and competitive hockey,” said head coach Koulikov.

“We had to kill off some needless penalties in the first period and then managed to build ourselves a cushion with the goals in the second period.

“From then on it was just about managing the game and two more goals early in the third period ensured there was no way Raiders could come back at us.”

A man-of-the-match performance from back-up netminder Ryan Bainborough highlighted this was no cakewalk for Phantoms.

Bainborough faced a dozen more shots than rival goalie Michael Gray and was particularly impressive in the first period.

Even when he was beaten during that opening stanza, the post came to Phantoms’ rescue to keep out an Olegs Lascenko shot.

The city side eventually made the breakthrough courtesy of an unlikely source as defenceman Robbie Ferrara ghosted into the offensive zone to fire into the top corner.

Their advantage was wiped out by a former Peterborough man – Erik Piatak – in the opening minute of the middle session, but that merely served as a wake-up call.

Phantoms quickly took command with a powerful surge featuring three goals in the space of seven minutes.

Martins Susters picked out Will Weldon in the slot to restore the advantage before Ales Padelek rolled back the years with a high-class individual effort featuring sublime skill, sheer strength and a stunning strike.

Fellow import Petr Stepanek then got in on the act in considerably less spectacular fashion by forcing in a Billing pass at the second attempt to give Phantoms a useful cushion.

And they finished the job courtesy of two early goals – sandwiching a fight – in the final period.

Glenn Billing pounced from close range before Joe Gretton dropped the gloves with Raiders man Mason Webster at the restart.

Once order had been restored, Phantoms wasted no time in settling the issue as impressive defenceman Joe Hazeldine and Padelek put a sixth goal on a plate for their captain, James Ferrara.

Koulikov added: “Ryan played really well again. It wasn’t a defensive performance from us by any means and he had to deal with a lot of shots.

“We have an important stretch of games ahead and it’s important to ensure that every player is ready whenever they are needed – and the goalies are no different.

“It was brilliant to finally have a full roster and hopefully we can keep it that way. I’ve had a lot of headaches this season due to injury and now I’ve got a much better one where I have to work out how I can give all the guys the ice-time they need and deserve.”

Phantoms’ latest success moved them to within seven points of out-of-form leaders Telford. They are six points behind second-placed Swindon, who they host on Sunday (February 23) at Planet Ice.

That clash forms the second part of a tough weekend with Phantoms heading to a Sheffield side, who have reeled off five successive wins, on Saturday (February 22).

MATCH DETAILS

Goals

PHANTOMS

17.21 R. Ferrara ass: Padelek/Billing

22.02 Weldon ass: Susters/C. Pollard

27.03 Padelek (DP) ass: Billing/Norton

28.54 Stepanek ass: Billing/Hazeldine

41.20 Billing ass: Norton/J. Ferrara

43.41 J. Ferrara ass: Hazeldine/Padelek

RAIDERS

20.52 Piatak ass: Connolly/Ayliffe

Men-of-the-match

PHANTOMS – Ryan Bainborough

RAIDERS – Erik Piatak