02 Mar 2019, 19:00 | Regular season | Altrincham Ice Dome |
Manchester Storm | 4-2 | Dundee Stars |
Periods: Shots: | 2-0 ( - ) | 1-2 ( - ) | 1-0 ( - ) |
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Referees: Chris Wells/Steve Brown | Spectators: 1437 |
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Goals and assists
Manchester’s excellent home form continued as Ryan Finnerty’s side did themselves no harm in the race for the playoffs – but denting Dundee’s hopes at the same time.
It was an incident-packed game from early on at the Storm Shelter, the first of note sawChance Braid and Oliver Paczkowski both ejected for Fighting after a previous hit. 30 seconds later Stars’ netminder Pontus Sjögren was ejected from the game after a melee in the crease, meaning Craig Holland had to set into the net. Manchester took full advantage of a new goalie, going ahead 11:30 into the game with a wrist-shot high into the net from Dane Byers. Just shy of four minutes later, a loose puck in the crease was poked home by Luke Moffatt, whose goal stood after video review.
When Mike Hammond skated into the offensive zone and shot past Holland to make it 3-0 at 24:06 the Stars looked out of it, however Omar Pacha’s side had other ideas. Jordan Cownie got them on the board at 32:09, and then a terrible line change by the Storm allowed Fabrizio Ricci to skate into the offensive zone and score at 32:07. Under 30 seconds later the Stars thought they’d tied it, but the goal was washed out on the play for goalie interference, a call upheld after consulting the footage.
Manchester made the game safe 5:31 into the final period, Moffatt’s wrist shot as the Storm counter-attacked being the insurance goal that helped them to a valuable home win.