23 Feb 2019, 19:00 | Regular season | Planet Ice Milton Keynes |
Milton Keynes Lightning | 4-3 | Manchester Storm |
Periods: Shots: | 1-0 ( - ) | 1-1 ( - ) | 2-2 ( - ) |
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Referees: Stefan Hogarth/Matt Thompson  |  Spectators: 1674 |
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Goals and assists
Milton Keynes scuppered Manchester’s chances of moving closer towards the playoff pack with a well-fought win over the Storm.
The Lightning were ahead inside five minutes, a Martin Mazanec shot blocked but Michael Fine was on hand to poke home the reobund for a powerplay goal at 4:57. Almost 20 minutes later the hosts doubled their lead Andreas Valdix capitalised on a blocked shot to go through 2-on-1, and he found Georgs Golovkovs to slot past Matt Ginn at 22:39. The Storm responded just under four minutes later, Adam Barnes with the finish on a breakaway to half the arrears.
With 5:02 played in the final period Nelson Armstrong went high over Ginn to give the Lightning a 3-1 lead, and although Chance Braid pulled one back for the Storm 56 seconds later the home side were back two ahead when David Norris converted a rebound with 3:35 to play.
Dane Byers made the home fans nervous with Manchester’s third 38 seconds from the end, but the Lightning held on for the win.