Dog’s played nearly their full roster with Ulrick stepping down from the Steelers annd only talisman Charlie Thompson and statesman Tim Smith missing out. The youngsters were relegated to the stands for this one.
The early pressure came from the phantoms in form of a power play after a penalty was called on Kirk for high sticks. Three fine pad saves from Crowe kept the phantoms at bay.
The game returned to 5 on 5 with the Dog’s trying to exert some pressure, which paid off after a lovely pass from Ulrick to release Sommer who did what Sommer does best and buried the puck in the back of the net. A breakaway by the phantoms got them back in the game with Mitchell King levelling the scores at 1 all half way through the first period .
At the 15 minute mark Cooper and Gretton decided to get to know each other a little better. Both big lads, both stood toe to toe throwing big punches. Both stood there taking each other’s blows until the linesman stepped in to separate them. Both stepped off the ice for an early cuppa with 5 minutes each for fighting. Play resumed 5 on 5 but not for long with the phantoms taking a delay of game penalty. The resulting power play saw the dogs retake the lead with Halfors getting the goal with Dan Crowe grabbing himself an assist on it too.
Dogs went in with a 2-1 lead at the end of the first.
Period 2 started with 8 minutes of dominance from the Dogs without adding to the score. All that quickly changed in the next minute with the dogs failing to clear their zone on two occasions and conceded two very quick goals to trail by 2-3. Goal 4 from the phantoms on the power play after a very dubious elbows call on Walker Sommer. A unanswered three goal period for the phantoms saw them lead 4-2 at the end of the second .
The third was underway and it needed a big reaction from the Dog’s which unfortunately was not to materialise.
Another defensive mistake cost the Dog’s another goal for the phantoms to take a 5-2 lead. The dogs answered that one very quickly with the second of the night for Sommer to reduce the score line to 5-3
Goal 6 came quickly after for the phantoms to regain their 3 goal lead.
The game end 6-3 in favour of the phantoms.
A very disappointing start to the weekend for a team that’s full of talent but seem to be failing to gel.
Mom Dogs -Walker Sommer
Mom Phantoms – Luke Ferrara
Bristol away tomorrow, time to regroup and grind out a result.