29 Mar 2019, 19:30 | Regular season | Planet Ice Milton Keynes |
Milton Keynes Lightning | 3-5 | Manchester Storm |
Periods: Shots: | 0-1 ( - ) | 1-3 ( - ) | 1-1 ( - ) |
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Referees: Tom Darnell/Matt Thompson  |  Spectators: 1525 |
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Goals and assists
Manchester moved into the playoff places thanks to a win in an exciting game in Milton Keynes, setting up a showdown with Coventry on Saturday night.
It was a perfect start for the Storm, taking the lead after only 12 seconds – Mike Hammond had the shot on the 2-on-1 saved, but the rebound fell to Rob Linsmayer to slot into a gaping net.
2:43 into period two a Dane Byers slapshot found its way past Patrick Killeen to make it 2-0, and that lead was to be doubled before the period was over. A wrap-around effort from Luke Moffatt ended up in the back of the Lightning net as it deflected in off Killeen at 29:02, and then 39 seconds later Moffatt doubled his tally for the night with a slapshot from the top of the circle.
Milton Keynes got themselves on the board with 30 seconds left in the period, and then start a comeback in the final period. Player-Coach Tim Wallace made it 2-4 at 46:21, before Cole Shudra really got the home crowd excited when Cole Shudra pulled the hosts back to within one. However just over two minutes later Felix-Antoine Poulin raced through on a breakaway to calmly slot past Killeen and give the Storm some breathing room at 52:23.
The Lightning tried to make the final seven minutes closer, but were unable to find another way past Matt Ginn, and the Storm left with the two-goal win.