MIDWEEK matches returned to the Link Centre with a bang on Wednesday night, as Wildcats faced MK Lightening in front of an electric crowd.
The stands were packed, as fans flocked out in numbers to take advantage of the first ‘Kids Go Free’ match of the season. But it was MK and Ex-Swindon man Pete Russell who would leave the Link Centre in high spirits, following a 5-2 win.
Spurred on by the atmosphere, it was MK who made the quickest start, going one nil up in under two minutes.
Following a strong passage of play from MK, Adam Carr found space to unleash an effort from distance, troubling netminder Stevie Lyle.
The Cats coach was able to parry the effort, but was unable to prevent Jack Watkins following up from close range to put the visitors ahead.
Undeterred by conceding early doors, Wildcats pressed on, eager to get back into the game.
Sami Ryhänen exhibited dominance in the centre of the rink, testing MK keeper Jordan Marr with a low shot. The puck fell to a waiting Jan Kostal, but the big forward was thwarted by a compact MK D-line quickly surrounding their netminder.
Clearly taking confidence from their defence, MK pushed forward, sending a barrage of attempts at Lyle between the Swindon pipes.
Tensions soon began to mount halfway through the period, as Cats forward Adam Harding did not take kindly to excessive MK pressing on Lyle’s goal, after the puck had been retrieved.
Duels continued all over the ice, Jan Kostal and Markku Tähtinen an ongoing episode. The Wildcats man seemed to have the better of his opponent, but the constant clashing saw him receive a two minute penalty on the 14 minute mark, for delaying play.
With Kostal off the ice, an MK advance was expected by all, yet did not materialise.
Instead it was Wildcats with the next opportunity, as Aaron Nell broke free of the opposition defence, only to be pulled down to the ice by Adam Carr while clean through on goal.
The crowd roared, hysterical at Nell being denied a clear goalscoring opportunity.
A penalty shot was duly awarded and the ice cleared. Nell stepped up confidently, yet was unable to get the better of Marr between the MK pipes.
The period appeared to be drawing to a quiet end, before Cats Matt Selby unfortunately saw a loose puck ricochet up off the ice and catch him in the face.
As Selby left the ice with a nasty welt forming above his eye, Cats advanced one more, looking to seize any opportunity in the dying seconds of the first period.
Before the buzzer could sound, Harvey Stead received a huge hit from Jordan Cownie, seeing the MK man trudge off to the sin bin for two minutes plus ten for checking from behind.
Cats took to the second period in inspired form with an immediate response, Ryhänen finding the MK goal within 22 seconds after neat interchange with Miroslav Zalesak and Jan Kostal.
Surging forward again, Harding cut through the MK d-line like a knife though hot butter, neatly slipping the puck through legs of David Clements. Yet his follow up shot from narrow angle couldn’t beat Marr who got in the block.
MK perseverance however soon paid off, Rene Jarolin showed just why he is their main man, by working room for himself in a tight pocket of ice and firing low into Stevie Lyle’s right hand corner on 34 minutes and 45 seconds.
Riding the wave of confidence from his goal, Jarolin bore down on the Cats goal once more, prompting a reflex save from Lyle.
Unwilling to lie down, Cats soon began to press back, a vicious Ryhänen effort from close proximity skimmed the helmet of Marr, causing the keeper to have to readjust it before play could continue.
Tomasz Malasinski then took a stray arm to the face, but the referee waved any appeals from him and the vocal Swindon crowd away. MK dug in once more, seeing it through to the third and final period with a 2-1 lead.
An early opening in the final period fell MK’s way, a lofted puck caught the Cats d-line off guard and fell to Marko Luomala, whose shot hit Lyle’s pads and scooped up and over the Swindon netminder.
Lyle could only turn and look as the puck dinked over the goal line and nestled for 3-1.
A frenetic spell of play followed, as a physical hustle grew between the Cats forwards and the MK d-line.
A quick counter-attack soon saw MK increase their margin, Cownie adding a fourth to his side’s tally.
MK d-man Lewis Christie soon after received a two minute penalty for holding, giving Swindon a powerplay opportunity which they would soon capitalise upon, Miroslav Zalesak threading through Tomasz Malasinski who finished to make it 4-2.
Cats continued to knock at door but it would not open. A catch of the puck from the outspread Marr cemented a fine evening’s work for the MK netminder.
In the latter minutes, Lyle hooked himself for an outfield player, a move which unfortunately would not pay off. MK broke down a Swindon attack, quickly reverting to the opposite end of the ice to add a fifth, courtesy of Markku Tähtinen.
The final score 5-2, the midweek magic is yet to return for Stevie Lyle’s side.