MK LIGHTNING ICE HOCKEY CLUB - MATCH PREVIEW

PREVIEW: MK Lightning v Peterborough Phantoms

7.00pm Saturday 28 January 2017

English Premier Ice Hockey League

This Saturday’s game is a local derby that supporters won’t want to miss, when the Smith Recycling MK Lightning take on the Peterborough Phantoms at Planet Ice MK  (7pm Sat 28 January).

The match up took on added significance at the weekend when the Phantoms beat Telford after penalty shots to booktheir place in the EPL Cup Final against MKL.

Although the remaining two league meetings between Lightning and Phantoms could well take place before the two legs of the Cup final, those games will be a welcome chance for both coaches to assess the opposition strengths and weaknesses at close quarters.

This Saturday sees the two teams meet when they are both enjoying strong form in the season. Despite a hectic playing schedule, MKL banked maximum points last weekend, beating Guildford and a determined Bracknell side. Pete Russell’s team has lost only two games in their last 10 league fixtures and remain in contention for all three available trophies.

Phantoms put 13 goals past Hull Pirates on Saturday and, like Lightning, have lost just two in their last 10 league games.

Phantoms’ Coach, Slava Koulikov, has praised the role of his British players in Sunday’s Cup Semi Final and – looking ahead to the showcase final – spoke of MKL as “the best team in the league, in my opinion”.

Lightning reclaimed the pre-season Ashes trophy this season, beating Phantoms 9-4 on aggregate. Since then, however, it’s 3-1 in MKL’s favour:

17.09.16: Lightning 4-1 Phantoms

25.09.16: Phantoms 2-5 Lightning

26.12.16: Lightning 2-3 Phantoms

27.12.16: Phantoms 0-5 Lightning

Former Phantoms man Lewis Hook is the second highest goalscoring Brit in the EPL with 25 goals. In the netminding stakes there’s little to separate Phantoms’ stopper Janis Auzins and Lightning’s Przemyslaw Odrobny with save percentages of 93.2% and 93.1% respectively.

The dates and ticket info for the EPL Cup Final against Phantoms are expected to be confirmed shortly and will be announced on mk-Lightning.co.uk.

Tickets for this Saturday’s clash against Peterborough are on sale now from the Planet Ice box office: buy in person or by phone 7 day so a week (01908 540020) or online 24/7 at MK-lightning.co.uk/tickets.

With home attendance growing week by week, and given the usual high demand for derby tickets we strongly advise supporters to book in advance to avoid matchnight ticket office queues.

Przemyslaw Odrobny-

Mikolaj Luposki - 

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