By Olivia Hooper
The Bristol Honda Pitbulls took the cautious trip in Storm Darragh to Milton Keynes, before suffering a 9-3 defeat against the Lightning.
Pitbulls were without Ewan Hill, Ben Davies and Sam Smith due to injury/illness. Reece Cochrane was out of the line up after being suspended for two games, and Bobby Ragan and Bayley Harewood were unable to travel due to Storm Darragh. Playing in the line up for this match were forwards Alex Rushby and Tyler Somerton from the Nottingham Lions.
The first period started in quite possibly the worst way for Pitbulls with Martins Susters scoring the opening goal of the evening for Lightning just 2.08 into the game leaving Pitbulls already trailing behind. It wasn’t long after this that Dillon Lawrence picked up a pass from Jordan Cownie and shot the puck to the back of the net scoring the second goal for Lightning at 4.42. Jay King received a 2 minute minor penalty at 9.12 and was released back on the ice at 11.12 where he fired out the box to defend the goal, however this didn’t stop Toms Rutkis from slipping it past Tyler De La Bertouche which saw Lightning with their third goal of the night just half way through the first period. Mack Stewart passed to Harry Gulliver who shot it past Pitbulls defense picking up the fourth goal for Lightning at 14.23 giving them a four goal lead against Pitbulls. Rutkis picked up the first penalty for Lightning at 15.56 which gave Pitbulls the opportunity to score a powerplay goal, however they were unable to put the puck past Will Kerlin before Rutkis returned to the ice. At 18.47, Jordan Spadafore was sent to the penalty box to sit a 5 minute penalty for Boarding which gave Pitbulls another opportunity to get one on the board. This was the end of the first period which saw MK Lightning in the lead with four goals leaving Pitbulls yet to score.
A quick period break was the chance for Pitbulls to discuss strategies and come out fighting for period two. Both teams returned to the ice and the puck was dropped for the second period with Pitbulls starting on the powerplay. Unfortunately for Pitbulls, the powerplay was unsuccessful and the 5 minute penalty was up. Gulliver took possession of the puck at which he took the chance to hit it over the shoulder of De La Bertouche and scored the fifth goal for lightning at 24.27. Ben Solder was sent to the box at 36.03 leaving Lightning on the penalty kill and giving Pitbulls another powerplay opportunity. It was less than a minute into Pitbulls powerplay that Bari McKenzie fired the puck that saw Kerlin unable to make the save and this put Pitbulls on the scoreboard with their first goal at 36.40. Both teams return to centre ice and it’s Pitbulls who win the face off, Rhys Smetham takes it into Lightnings defensive zone and passed to Nick Pryce who couldn’t get a clear shot, which saw him make the pass to Mason Lipsey who saw the opportunity to push the puck across the line at scoring the second goal for Pitbulls just 21 seconds after they scored their first. Period two saw Pitbulls as the stronger side despite being extremely short benched and the score at the end of this period was Lighting with 5 goals and Pitbulls with 2.
Into the final period, Tanner Butler was sent to the box at 42.58 which presented Lightning with the chance to extend their lead. A slapshot from Ross Venus gave Lightning their sixth goal of the evening and made it back to a five goal lead for their team. A boarding penalty was called on Cameron Hamill at 46.29 and put Pitbulls back on the penalty kill but they were able to hold off Lightning from completing another successful powerplay. A Lightning penalty on Archie Sailsbury for hooking saw Pitbulls back on the powerplay but it wasn’t until after the Lightning penalty was up that Smetham took the chance and he was rewarded with the third goal for Pitbulls. A penalty for slashing was given to Butler at 53.13 and gave Lightning another powerplay, it was Susters who slapped it past De La Bertouche and scored the seventh goal for Lightning. At 56.14 Butler saw himself sent back to the box for a minor penalty, Lightning took full advantage of this and Stewart scored his first goal of the night and the eighth goal for his team. Pryce got the breakaway and took it up the ice but a penalty was called on him for cross-checking and also saw a penalty called on Callum Field for roughing. This saw both penalties cancel each other out and the game continued five on five, but it was Lightning who were able to take advantage of Pryce in the box and scored the ninth goal for his team at 58.55. Pryce and Field were soon released from the box but the time was up and it was MK Lightning who were able to take the 2 points.
Man of the match for Lightning went to Harry Gulliver and for Pitbulls, it was given to Mason Lipsey.
Will Kerlin faced a total of 25 shots on goal and Tyler De La Bertouche faced 56 shots on goal.
Photo credit to Pete Fears
