AFTER a pulsating weekend of title-chasing hockey, there was no change at the top of the NIHL National standings for defending champions Leeds Knights and current leaders Milton Keynes Lightning.
As was the case before the weekend, the Knights trail the Lightning by just the one point with 12 games remaining and another game against each other still to come.
The Knights now take a break from league action for next weekend’s two-legged NIHL National Cup final against Romford Raiders, while Milton Keynes face third-placed Swindon Wildcats in a double-header.
It was road form that was key at the weekend, though, with the Knights taking the points in a 4-2 victory in Milton Keynes, before Tim Wallace’s team hit back to win 3-2 at The Castle.
It was the Lightning who struck first on Sunday night, a giveaway on the edge of the Leeds zone finding Sean Norriw, whose shot was saved by Sam Gospel only for Ross Venus to be first to the rebound and poke home from close range at 4.18.
The Lightning were good value for their lead and doubled their advantage just 57 seconds into the second period, Norris quickest to react to a rebound off Gospel and back-hand the puck home.
The Knights were creating more in the second period and got their rewards on the power play when Matt Haywood fired through traffic to make it 2-1 at 32.01.
The equaliser, when it came in the 49th minute was brilliant, Jordan Griffin breaking up play to allow Bailey Perre to make a fantastic pass to Kieran Brown, who took one stride before quickly firing through Jordan Hedley’s five-hole from 15 yards.
It was a power play that was to prove decisive two minutes later though, the Lightning making the most of their man advantage when Mack Stewart fired into the roof of the net from close-range after a goalmouth scramble at 50.08.
The previous night saw the Lightning again take the lead early on, with Stewart beating Gospel.
The Knights pulled level through Matt Barron 53 seconds before the end of the period before seizing control of the game in the second.
Brown put his side ahead just 73 seconds into the middle section before two goals in the space of a minute either side of the halfway mark saw them pull further clear.
Haywood was in position to double the lead at 29.35 before Jordan Buesa made it 4-1 30.17.
Patrik Forsberg made the most of a power play to pull a goal back with 10 seconds of the period remaining, but that was as close as the Lightning got.
