MK Lightning vs Solway Sharks 30.11.24
The Dynamic property services Solway Sharks travelled South on Saturday evening to face current league leaders, MK Lightning and fell short 4-1 to the hosts, despite scoring the sole goal in the final frame.
The Sharks travelled with 15+2, missing key forward #9 Mason Alderson through injury following last weekend’s game against the Telford Tigers, whilst Lightning lined up with 18+2 including new signing #72 Richard Hartmann. Solway opted for regular starter #33 Jordan Marr, meanwhile MK gave #1 Jordan Hedley the start.
1st period –
The hosts got off to an electric start, putting themselves in the lead early thanks to a rebound by #59 Ross Venus after the initial strike from #95 Jordan Cownie at 2:40. The Sharks quickly looked to answer back but Hedley matched their efforts.
MK Lightning doubled their advantage at 5:18 after #14 Dillon Lawrence fired high over Marr’s shoulder, assisted by #28 Tim Wallace and #96 Ben Solder. The Sharks then headed to the penalty kill for the first time as #12 Kell Beattie was handed a holding call at 6:49, but a strong defensive performance prevented the hosts claiming a 3rd goal.
Solway created their own offensive pressure in the 2nd half of the period, forcing #16 Mack Stewart to give up a holding call at 13:57, giving the visitors a chance to half the deficit. Despite multiple efforts through the first line, Solway remained 2 goals behind at the first period break.
2nd period –
The Sharks returned for the middle frame with intent, but Hedley made the difference for MK in defence. The Lightning levelled up the pressure and created multiple chances, but it was Marr making the final stops in the crease to keep Solway in fighting contention. However, just after the game crossed the halfway mark, #16 Mack Stewart fired from point to send the puck low past the line at 31:26, assisted by #95 Jordan Cownie and #25 Ed Knaggs to give MK a 3-goal clearance.
MK maintained momentum and fired a 4th goal past Marr on 36 minutes as #59 Ross Venus claimed his 2nd of the evening after Mack Stewart worked the puck around the goal. The Lightning gave away a penalty late in the middle frame at 39:28 as #24 Carter Hamill sat for delaying the game, but the Sharks failed to sneak a strike past Hedley before the final period.
3rd period –
Solway returned for the final frame with intent but failed to find a way past Hedley to reduce the deficit. Hamill and Susters created a threatening chance for the hosts, but Marr stood strong to deny a further marker onto the scoreline.
Sharks returned to the penalty kill at 48:07 as #53 Kian Shevlin was handed a penalty for slashing, but a strong defensive shift for the visitors denied the MK forwards. Lightning maintained puck possession for the majority of the 3rd period, but Marr matched the multiple efforts to prevent an extension for Milton Keynes.
A shift in momentum in the final 5 minutes allowed #14 Lewis Young to claim a consolation goal for the Sharks, lifting the puck over Hedley’s left shoulder from the right wing at 56:37, assisted by line mate #89 Scott Henderson. Solway battled to halve the deficit in the closing moments, but the final buzzer sounded sealing a 4-1 victory for the MK Lightning.
MVPs were awarded to Solway’s #33 Jordan Marr after putting up some superb saves between the pipes. Meanwhile MK’s #24 Carter Hamill claimed the title for the hosts for his efforts.
Solway Sharks vs. MK Lightning 01.12.2024
The Dynamic Property Services sponsored Solway Sharks returned to the Shark Tank on Sunday after a gruelling road trip to Milton Keynes. Despite arriving home close to 5 a.m., the Sharks were determined to bounce back following their previous night’s loss to MK Lightning.
The Sharks showed visible signs of fatigue early on as they battled against the Lightning’s high-intensity play. Netminder Calum Hepburn was a standout performer, making several key saves to deny the visitors’ high-quality chances. However, at 17:02, the Lightning capitalised on a powerplay opportunity. Corey McEwen, positioned perfectly, converted a loose puck into an open net after a fanned shot landed at his stick. The first period concluded with the visitors holding a narrow 1-0 lead.
Just over two minutes into the second period, Joey Coulter turned defence into offense, blocking a shot and racing away on a breakaway. Coulter expertly deked netminder Jordan Hedley to score a stunning goal and bring the Sharks level. The Sharks worked hard to generate chances during three powerplay opportunities but failed to convert. The Lightning, however, made their second powerplay count at 36:32, with Dillon Lawrence deftly deflecting a shot into the net. The period ended with the Lightning leading 2-1.
The Sharks came out for the third period with renewed energy, hungry for an equaliser. However, the Lightning struck first, with Martin Susters extending the visitors’ lead early in the period. Undeterred, the Sharks fought back. Olivier Arseneau ignited the home crowd with an incredible solo effort to cut the deficit to one. This goal galvanised the Sharks, who began creating dangerous scoring opportunities.
At 48:13, Kell Beattie delivered a beautiful backhand saucer pass to John Dunbar, who streaked into the offensive zone and slid a backhand shot under Hedley’s pad to tie the game at 3-3. The final 10 minutes saw an intense defensive effort from the Sharks, led by the ever-reliable Hepburn, to keep the Lightning at bay and force overtime.
A late interference penalty against the Lightning at the end of regulation gave the Sharks a powerplay advantage heading into overtime. The Sharks wasted no time capitalising—less than a minute in, Arseneau charged toward the net and delivered the game-winning goal. The Sharks claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory, snatching two crucial points from the league-leading Lightning.
MVPs of the Match were Calum Hepburn for the Sharks and Corey McEwen for the Lightning.
Canadian import defenseman Olivier Arseneau shared his thoughts on the team’s performance over the weekend, “After the loss in a difficult building it was nice to see the team get back in the mix Sunday and take 2 out of 4 points. Calum gave us a chance to tie the game in the third and we never gave up until the last buzzer.”
This weekend, the Solway Sharks are on the road, facing the Swindon Wildcats on Saturday, December 7, at 6:30 PM, and the Bristol Pitbulls on Sunday, December 8, at 5:00 PM. While the action takes place away from home, the Dumfries Ice Bowl is still the place to be!
Come enjoy the games in the company of passionate Sharks fans and experience the excitement together at our watch parties in the Shark Tank! Let’s bring the energy and cheer our team to victory!
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