SNL fans were treated to some edge of your seat hockey on Saturday with three thrilling games.

The battle for the top of the league intensifies as the Edinburgh Capitals are only one point behind Aberdeen Lynx who are still hanging onto the top spot.

Saturday saw the Capitals clinch a 7-6 win against Kilmarnock Thunder on home ice at Murrayfield in what can only be described as a rollercoaster of a game.

First to find the back of the net just three minutes in was Capitals Captain Joel Gautschi, with his first of four goals of the evening. Thunder weren’t far behind and Ewan Anderson scored 42 seconds later.

This was just the boost the Kilmarnock side needed. With more goals from Ewan Anderson and Innes Gallagher, Thunder were on fire and finished the period 5-1 up.

The Caps regrouped and came out fighting scoring their 2nd goal of the evening just three minutes in. Joel Gautschi then added in three more for the Edinburgh side and by the end the 2nd had closed the gap to 5-4.

It was all to play for in the final period and Stephen Lynch’s team were on a roll. Chad Smith levelled the scoreline to 5-5, but just three minutes later Ewan Anderson scored and Thunder were in the lead again, but not for long. Just 30 seconds later the Capitals scored and it was all level again with only 4 minutes left on the clock.

Talk about leaving things to the last minute or in this case last second! It was showing 59.59 on the clock when Sean Cochrane clinched the 7-6 win for the Caps as the Murrayfield crowd went wild.

In Aberdeen the fans were out in force too for the Lynx’s first SNL Pride game against the Kirkcaldy Kestrels.
Both times these teams had met this season the Lynx bagged the win, albeit the first time in overtime.

Aberdeen took to the ice in their charity Pride shirts in front of the the sell out crowd, and it wasn’t long until Jack Flynn opened the scoring for the Aberdeen side. Player/coach Jordan Leyden took the Lynx 2-0 up until Connor Duncan scored for the visitors with a penalty finishing the 1st period 2-1 to the Lynx.

The only goal scored in the 2nd was from Aberdeen’s Ben Edmonds, which extended their lead finishing 3-1up.

Four minutes into the 3rd period the Kestrels scored, but the Lynx fought hard and with a goal just two minutes later by Tom Johnston the Lynx regained their lead.

The Kestrels dug deep to turn things around, scoring two goals just a minute apart whilst on power plays, levelling 4-4.

Gary Kelly was quick to find the back of the net for the Lynx, but moments later Kestrels George Pitcaithly scored ending the period 5-5.

Going into overtime both teams were looking to clinch the win, but it was Kestrels Connor Duncan that completed the job for the visitors, adding 2 points to their league, score but still maintain their 6th position.

Saturday also saw the battle intensify between the two Dundee teams as they went head to head in a rescheduled derby game.

With the Comets only 2 points behind the Tigers in the league, both teams were keen to boost their standings with a home win.

First to hit the score sheet was Grant Reekie for the Tigers on a power play, but the Comets soon levelled it before Paul Guilcher from the Tigers scored again just seconds later.

The 2nd saw Ross MacIntosh scoring the first of his two goals of the evening, but it was goal about until the period ended 4-3 to the Tigers.

It was all to play for in the final period and John Dolan for the Comets levelled the score to 4-4. The Comets then took the lead for the first time in the game with a goal by Billy Baxter.

Only 12 seconds later the Tigers scored but with less than 3 minutes left on the clock there wasn’t enough time for either team to find the back of the net.

With 5 minutes of overtime on the clock, it was the Tigers that completed the job with a goal from Robbie Hall.

The Tigers are currently sitting 3rd in the league on 28 points, three points ahead of the Comets. Paisley Pirates moved down a place to 5th this weekend as their game against North Ayrshire Wild, which was scheduled to be played on Sunday, was cancelled due to technical issues at the rink.

All eyes will be on the scores next weekend to see if there will be a shake up at the top.

 

WEEKEND RESULTS

Saturday

Aberdeen Lynx 5 Kirkcaldy Kestrels 6

Edinburgh Capitals 7 Kilmarnock Thunder 6

Dundee Tigers 5 Dundee Comets 5