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| Photo by Geoff White - www.gw-images.co.uk |
A cagey first period saw both teams create good
opportunities but they just weren’t able to find a way past either goalie. With
the fans on the edge of their seat, the first period ended 0-0, and both
coaches would have been happy with their teams after such a frantic start.
The Lions got off to a great start in the second period. On
the power-play, a redirected shot squeeked through Wild netminder Greg Ruxton's
pads to give the visitors the lead. The Wild however found their groove and
attacked the Lions, wave after wave and eventually found a way through with a
great finish from Geoff Wigglesworth. Good work from Scott Mckenzie found
Wigglesworth open at the back door to put the puck high into the net to get the
Wild back on level terms. Period 2 ending evenly at 1-1.
Both teams returned to the ice for the third period knowing
that it was going to be a tight finish, which it certainly proved to be.
Nottingham again getting on the score sheet relatively early in the period to
make it 2-1 to the Lions. Wild again came back at the opposition and eventually
with six minutes remaining, Geoff Wigglesworth found himself open in front of
the net to tap home from short distance and tie the game at 2-2. With just
three minutes remaining, an error in the Wild defence gave the Lions a
breakaway in which they duly obliged, finishing low in the bottom corner and
giving the visitors a crucial 3-2 lead with just minutes left on the clock.
The
Wild pushed for an equaliser, pulling the goalie to get the extra player on the
ice but to no avail, the Lions again able to score on the empty net and
creating a 4-2 scoreline.
