Milton Keynes Storm 0 Swindon Cougars 5

Sunday 16 October 2011

No rest for these two teams as the fixture list had thrown up the return fixture just 24 hours later; Cougars came into the game missing injured Taylor and Bancroft, whilst Clinton and R Young were unavailable so the team lined up with Pullen & Bonello (NMs); P Young, Kielczewski, Pettitt, Thrower and McGiffin (D) and Thompson, Dolphin, Ford, Nell, Redmond, Smith, Da Cova and Abu-Ebid (F). Opponents Storm had a bench strength of 16 for this match. Match officials R. Adams and M. Carrington.

Period 1

Scoring
Cougars > 0 – 1 > Dolphin/Nell @ 15:01 (EHG)
Cougars > 0 – 2 > Ford/Thrower @ 16:09 (EHG)

Penalties
Cougars > Pettitt > 2 min, Kneeing @ 08:34
Cougars > Young > 2 min, Cross-checking @ 09:30
Storm > Redpath > 2 min, Interference @ 12:11
Storm > Green > 2 min, Cross-checking @ 20:00

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 20 on Hedley
Storm > 2 on Bonello

Following recent practice Bonello started this game in net for Cougars, the first four minutes being total Cougars pressure without reward; in fact the first 3 penalties of the game were the only early incidents to trouble the scorer. The consistent Cougars attacking finally paid off at 15 min when Dolphin got a touch on a pass from Nell to finally beat the once again impressive Hedley in Storm’s net. This was quickly followed by the second Cougars goal and the final action of the period came as the buzzer sounded with the second Storm penalty.

Period 2

Scoring
Cougars > 0 – 3 > Dolphin/Redmond + Pettitt @ 37:34 (EHG)

Penalties
Storm > Green > 2 min, Roughing @ 33:39
Cougars > Dolphin > 2 min, Interference @ 33:39

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 15 on Hedley
Storm > 4 on Bonello

The second period followed the pattern of the first with almost incessant Cougars pressure but only the one goal to show at its end and this may have been a bit fortuitous as it appeared to enter the net off a hand. There was only one penalty to each team in this period which left the teams four on four for two mins.

Period 3

Scoring
Cougars > 0 – 4 > Redmond/Smith @ 54:51 (EHG)
Cougars > 0 – 5 > Dolphin/Abu-Ebid + Nell @ 55:26 (EHG)

Penalties
Cougars > Smith > 2 min, Holding @ 40:27
Storm > Carmichael > 2 min, Slashing @ 41:08
Cougars > McGiffin > 2 min, Holding @ 45:54
Storm > Redpath > 2 min, Roughing @ 45:54
Storm > Starkey > 10 min, Personal Misconduct @ 49:06
Cougars > Bench (served by Thompson) > 2 min, Icing infringement @ 50:44

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 21 on Hedley (personal and team total 56)
Storm > 2 on Bonello (personal and team total 8)

Into the third and two early penalties, one to each team were killed off, before another 2 mins four on four again left the scoreboard unmoved, then on 49 mins Storm’s Starkey copped for a 10 minute misconduct for shooting the puck at the Cougars net after an offside whistle, whilst at 50:44 poor signalling by the officials led to a Cougars bench minor for an icing infringement. The long overdue 4th goal finally lit the lamp just before the 55th min, and shortly afterwards the 5th and final goal came as Dolphin collected his second straight hat-trick with a fine finish. The final shots on goal totals did reflect Cougars’ total dominance of the fixture as they took their winning run to 3 straight (and over the 2 game series aimed an incredible 127 at the overworked Hedley). Player of the match awards were given to Storm’s Hedley (rightly) and Cougars’ Abu-Ebid.

Notes
EHG = Even-Handed Goal
PPG = PowerPlay Goal
SHG = Short-Handed Goal
GWG = Game Winning Goal
ENG = Empty Net Goal



Report provided by Swindon Cougars IHC