Picture by Ian Coyle
With just three weekends remaining in the regular season, teams across the SNL are making their final push for playoff positions. This weekend saw three exciting matchups as the race for crucial points intensifies.
Weekend Fixtures
Edinburgh Capitals vs. Paisley Pirates
Murrayfield hosted Saturday’s highly anticipated clash between the Edinburgh Capitals and Paisley Pirates, and the game lived up to expectations. The Capitals, holding onto 2nd place in the table, faced a determined Pirates side looking to close the gap on the 4th-placed Kestrels.
The first period saw the Capitals apply early pressure, but it was the Pirates who struck first, with top scorer Alex Lane netting the opener just two minutes before the buzzer. Less than a minute into the second period, Capitals’ captain Joel Gautschi responded with the equaliser. However, the Pirates quickly regained control, as Marcus Murdoch capitalised on a penalty shot, followed by a power-play goal from Chris Wilson.
Heading into the final period with a 3-1 lead, the Pirates found themselves under heavy pressure as the Capitals maximised their power-play opportunities. Joe Lynch scored twice on the man advantage to level the game. Neither side could find a winning goal in regulation or the five-minute overtime period. The game was ultimately decided by a penalty shot from Martyn Simpson, sealing the win and two points for the Pirates.
Aberdeen Lynx vs. North Ayrshire Wild
North Ayrshire Wild made the long trip north to face the Aberdeen Lynx. The game started with a strong effort from the visitors, as 17-year-old Jacob Woods opened the scoring with a short-handed goal early in the first period. With less than two minutes left, Lynx’s Jordan Leyden equalised with an unassisted effort, but Wild quickly regained the lead as Liam Houston executed a power-play goal just seconds later.
The second period saw Lynx turn up the pressure on Wild as well as making a goaltending change, bringing in Dominick Jaglar to replace Rory Wood. Lynx eventually found their equaliser half way through the period with a goal from Josef Babicka. The final period saw Lynx apply relentless pressure, resulting in two more goals—one from Zac Thomson and another from Jordan Leyden, his second of the night. Lynx secured the 4-2 victory and claimed two valuable points.
Kirkcaldy Kestrels vs. Kilmarnock Thunder
Kirkcaldy Kestrels hosted Kilmarnock Thunder at Fife Arena in a game that showcased their attacking strength. The home side wasted no time, with Ross Henderson and Conor Duncan scoring in quick succession in the first period.
Thunder responded just 42 seconds into the second period with a goal from Scott Cowan, but Kestrels quickly hit back with two more goals, including a power-play strike from Allan Anderson. Thunder’s Kevin Ross reduced the deficit with their second goal, only for George Pitcaithly to restore Kestrels’ comfortable lead moments later.
The final period saw Kestrels extend their advantage with three more goals, two of which came from Conor Duncan, completing his hat trick. The dominant performance ensured Kestrels took the two points.
With the playoff race heating up, now is the time to secure your tickets for the Playoff Weekend, taking place on April 19th and 20th at Dundee Ice Arena.
