Red-hot Peterborough Phantoms stretch winning run to five matches

Petr Stepanek leaps for joy after putting the Phantoms level midway through the 2nd period against Basingstoke at Planet Ice. Photo: Tom Scott.

The city men reeled off back-to-back victories against Basingstoke by prevailing 4-3 after penalty shots in Hampshire on Saturday (January 25) before following up with a 3-1 verdict on home ice last night (January 26) after coming from behind.

The double-success stretches their purple patch to five consecutive wins in all competitions and head coach Slava Koulikov was predictably thrilled.

He said: “We always knew it would be a tough weekend. To play as the number one team on the road on Saturday and come away with our first shoot-out win was really pleasing.

Phantoms Will Weldon in one of several flashpoints during a feisty 3rd period in the home game with Basingstoke. Photo: Tom Scott..

“It was important to follow that up back in our building but it definitely wasn’t easy.

“Basingstoke were better than us in the first period even though we had lots of chances, and the second period was then pretty even.

“But, in the room before the third period, I asked my guys for three things and told them we would win the game if they could all buy in and deliver on them.

“They did exactly what I wanted and we got the two points again to keep building momentum.”

Glenn Billing carries the puck out of Phantoms defensive zone. Photo: Tom Scott.

Phantoms could find no way past inspired Bison netminder Alex Mettam in the first period last night.

He single-handedly kept the city men at bay during a series of early powerplays before Basingstoke hit the front when Paul Petts gobbled up a rebound.

Mettam continued to be a formidable final line of defence for the visitors, but it seemed inevitable that Phantoms would claw themselves level.

And they did just that when Petr Stepanek unleashed a powerplay rocket just past the mid-point of the contest.

Normal service was swiftly resumed with Mettam denying Ales Padelek a second goal for Phantoms moments later and rival netminder Jordan Marr then made a crucial contribution in the final minute of the period by denying Bison player-coach Ashley Tait.

But Stepanek succeeded in completing the turnaround in the final session when giving a perfect James Ferrara pass the finish it deserved.

A stunning Mettam stop then denied Corey McEwen before Stepanek’s hat-trick hopes were thwarted by the crossbar.

But the Czech ace turned provider for Glenn Billing to seal the points in the final minute as Bison lost their discipline with Phantoms pocketing the points.

Koulikov’s men had suffered a nightmare start in Basingstoke on Saturday when falling behind to an Adam Harding strike in the third minute.

That proved to be the only breakthrough of the opening period, but Phantoms then gained the initiative in the middle session as Stepanek levelled on a powerplay before Martins Susters fired them ahead.

McEwen added a third goal only 61 seconds into the final stanza, but Phantoms saw their advantage wiped out late on.

Richard Bordowski dragged Basingstoke back into contention with a powerplay goal before Tait levelled in a short-handed situation to ensure both teams claimed a point apiece.

Neither side could strike again in overtime, but Phantoms sealed the extra point in the shoot-out with McEwen and Padelek finding the target after Susters missed with their first attempt.

Michael Klejna tucked away the first Bison penalty but Marr then denied Harding and Sean Norris.

Phantoms remain third in the NIHL National Division and now boast a four-point cushion over Basingstoke and Hull, who sit fourth on goal difference.

And it is the Pirates who provide Phantoms’ next opposition in the second leg of an NIHL National Cup semi-final on Friday (January 31, 7.30pm) at Planet Ice.

The city men hold a 4-2 advantage from the opening leg in Hull earlier this month as bid to complete their passage into a final against either Telford or Swindon.

Phantoms then host Swindon in a league fixture on Sunday (February 2, 5.30pm).

SATURDAY MATCH DETAILS

Goals

BASINGSTOKE

2.52 Harding ass: Sampford/Norcliffe

54.07 Bordowski (PP) ass: Tait/Jones

57.17 Tait (SH) ass: Morris/Bordowski

PHANTOMS

22.48 Stepanek (PP) ass: McEwen/Susters

37.38 Susters ass: McEwen/Stepanek

41.01 McEwen ass: Susters/Padelek

Men-of-the-match

BASINGSTOKE – Richard Bordowski

PHANTOMS – Callum Buglass

SUNDAY MATCH DETAILS

Goals

PHANTOMS

31.53 Stepanek (PP) ass: McEwen/Susters

43.35 Stepanek ass: J. Ferrara/McEwen

59.12 Billing ass: Stepanek/Susters