LEEDS KNIGHTS ensured they go into the last five games of the NIHL National regular season campaign tied on points with rivals Milton Keynes Lightning after posting another four-point weekend.
A thrilling 7-4 derby win over Hull Seahawks on Saturday night at The Castle was followed by a solid 3-0 victory at Telford Tigers on Sunday.
The Knights play their game in hand on the Lightning this Friday at Romford Raiders before they lock horns with Milton Keynes 24 hours later in a pivotal clash in Buckinghamshire.
In front of another packed home crowd, the Knights got the better of derby rivals Hull for a third time this season, getting off to the best possible start when they raced into a 3-0 first period lead.
Matt Barron struck first on the power play at 7.18 and doubled his tally 10 minutes later, but only after captain Kieran Brown had made it 2-0 in the 10th minute.
But Hull came roaring back in the second period, getting on the board through Bobby Chamberlain at 26.21 before making it a one-goal game after Johnny Corneil broke clear to score a short-handed effort at 30.40.
But the Knights responded quickly and got themselves three goals clear again after Brown beat Jordan McLaughlin twice more before the break.
Once again, though, the visitors proved their staying power, reducing the deficit to 5-3 through Declan Balmer’s 45th minute power play strike before pulling to within one when Emil Svec made the most of another penalty on the Knights six minutes later.
But that was close as Hull got, Brown scoring a well-worked fourth goal for the skipper on the night at 54.24 - again on the power play - before Barron secured a deserved hat-trick with a clinical finish to make it 7-4 at 56.04.
Buoyed by news that Milton Keynes lad lost 5-1 at home to Peterborough Phantoms the night before, the Knights headed to Telford on Sunday in good spirits and looking to extend their winning streak to eight games.
It was a much tighter affair against a Tigers team still looking to confirm their place in the play-offs.
After a goalless first period, Finley Bradon broke the deadlock with his 11th power play goal of the season at 25.52.
That was how it stayed before the Knights gave themselves some welcome breathing space just over five minutes into the third period when Brown struck with his 53rd goal of the season but - more importantly - his 100th point overall.
As Telford chased the game, it was left to Barron - with his 45th goal of the season - to make it 3-0 with an empty net strike with just 37 seconds remaining.
