Weekend Teaser: First season meet ups with MK Lightning and Telford Tigers

 

 What does weekend three have in store for the Bees?

Season weekend two review 

Having met both teams the previous weekend Bees knew what to expect from these games. An away game at the playoff champions, Peterborough Phantoms, started the weekend and just like the previous weekend it was to be a close affair. Bees opened up the scoring with Will Stead getting a tip on Stuart Mogg's shot but Phantoms were able to bag two goals to end the first period 2-1 ahead. The second period saw the Bees equalise with the only goal of the 20 minutes being a superb move and shot from Vanya Antonov. There was a goal apiece in the third with Dominik Gabaj scoring on the powerplay to tie the game and secure a point for the Bees. Overtime was scoreless and the lottery of penalty shots went in Phantoms favour. All in all a very entertaining game with Bees picking up their first point of the season.

Sunday saw the Wildcats visit Slough. When the teams met the previous weekend there was controversy over a goal decision, well that was nothing compared to what was to unfold in this game. The first period ended 1-2 with Bees goal coming from Marcel Balaz. We believed  Dominik Gabaj had scored the equaliser in the second period but that goal was ruled out due to an incident at the other end of the rink. The officials decision was that Adam Rosbottom had high sticked Pakozdi of the Wildcats and was given a 2+2 penalty. In reality Aaron Nell had caught his own teammate with his stick. The look on Adam Rosbottom's face was priceless as he was at least 3 metres away from the incident. The Wildcats scored on the powerplay to make the score 1-3 and this is how the second period ended. More decision making was required by the officials in the third as Malasinski took an early shower (once he actually returned to the dressing room) for a check to the head. Bees were unable to capitalise on the 5 minute penalty and with no goals in the period the Wildcats bagged the win. 

My opinion - Bees worked their socks off in Peterborough and thoroughly deserved a point. The import goalies on both teams showed how good they are and justified why for some teams using an import slot for a goalie is a good decision. Sunday's game was a hard game both mentally and physically. The officials made the Bees job a lot harder than it should have been but not scoring on a 5 minute penalty was the Bees undoing. Defence is now solid with Max Wright and a great roster of defenders in front of him but some improvement in the offence is still needed. If I was Aaron Nell would I admit I sticked my own player when a goal was washed out and a 2+2 powerplay was gifted to my team, probably not. If the decision had been correct it wouldn't even be a question but karma was to come into force as Malasinski's reckless challenge on Vanya Antonov was reviewed by DOPS and he will now face a 3 game suspension when Wildcats need him the most with some tricky opponents ahead. 

Player of the Weekend Result

Congratulations to Stuart Mogg who is the player of the weekend, he wins thanks to your votes on Twitter with 50% of the vote. 

Next: Home to the Lightning and away to the Tigers 

Bees welcome the Lightning to Slough on Saturday evening. Having met in preseason, Lightning had the edge over the Bees but with only two goals separating the teams on each fixture it will be interesting to see how this game will pan out. The Lightning currently sit fourth in the league with a regulation win, a loss and a shoutout win in their first three games. Ross Venus is their top scorer with 3+2 over the three games but the depth in their squad means that the Bees will need to focus on all the lines as there is no telling where a goal may come from. 

On Sunday the Bees travel to Shropshire to take on the Telford Tigers who currently sit below the Bees at the bottom of the league table. The Tigers had a tough start to their league campaign meeting Hull Seahawks and the Leeds Knights on the second weekend of the season when they conceded 14 goals over the two fixtures. Brits Scott McKenzie and Harry Ferguson top their scoring with 5 points apiece over their first three games. Brad Day in goal has a save percentage of 84.48% conceding an average of 6 goals a game. Max Wright is conceding less than 4 goals a game on average so if Bees can find their scoring ways then this should be a close affair.

All that is left to say is safe travels to the Lightning and their travelling fans heading to Slough on Saturday and to the Bees players and travelling fans heading to Telford on Sunday.

Come on you Bees!

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