Howdy, hockey fans! The next stage of the 54-game rodeo continues this week in the Planet Ice NIHL National Division as the Morley Glass Leeds Knights head into a top-two clash in Milton Keynes before returning to our barn for another classic contest against our most recent rivals, Peterborough Phantoms.
How Things Stat Up
As we go through the 20-game mark on the season, this game week is quite the draw as four of the league’s top 10 point scorers will face-off over the two nights - you might want to saddle up!
Matt Bissonnette (42), Matt Barron (34), MK’s Ross Venus (34) and Cameron Hough (33) have been collecting points at some rate and it almost ensures entertainment for you this weekend!
Hough leads the league for goals with 21 in 20 for the Peterborough Phantoms and he will be head-to-head with club captain Kieran Brown (18 goals) just seven days after their duel when both scored hat-tricks in the reverse fixture.
The Knights top all sides with 14 wins so far but face the two opponents who have inflicted defeat on them most recently on back-to-back nights.
Four home wins on the bounce have followed since Milton Keynes left Leeds with a win and as ‘Country Night’ hits The Castle the team need a home crowd to spur them on to a fifth-straight home success.
In just 9 home fixtures 50 of goals have had fans honky-tonking to the horn as the scoreboard flashes.
While the Phantoms stand before us for the second Sunday in succession looking to be bandits, road-tripping is not a strength for this week’s visitors. They concede an average of 4.7 goals against on their travels and are currently on a run of seven losses in nine having not won an away fixture in regulation since the very first game of the season.
Confident of completing business at home, the first 60 minutes of the slate see the boys ride down to the Thunderdome looking for a crucial two points that would maintain their position at the summit. It would also avenge the 3-2 shootout defeat of five weeks ago and provide some southern comfort.
Despite an impressive record at home for Milton Keynes meaning we suffered three straight defeats in the south in 23/24, Lightning’s form in November has seen them drop points in each round to date, including on home ice to Slava Koulikov’s Phantoms two rounds ago.
This match gives both teams the opportunity to get back on their horse after losses. A goal from forward Ross Venus meant MK went into the third ahead - and held the lead with just eight minutes left - but Sunday saw the Tigers triumph after overtime and take the spoils in Telford, while Leeds were on the wrong end of a 6-4 scoreline in Peterborough.
The all-round action of Venus is similar to that of our man Matt Barron as they contribute pretty evenly in both the goals and assists column. These could well be the two men who are key to how their sides flow in what is sure to be a tight game between well-matched rivals. This one never disappoints!
Don’t Miss The Party
Get those boots ready to two-step towards points this weekend and prepare for more maverick performances from this incredible Knights roster.
We want everyone in tune with Leeds’ best themed night to date so however you can watch our lines dance on the ice make sure you do!
