Ok, the game was no classic, but I enjoyed it. Both teams had some chances, with the first going to the Bison in the first minute. Their attack led to a shot from the point by Knox, which was saved by Bernie. However, Knox and Snesar then became entangled in a mini barny, whilst Johnstone started on another Bison. The final call was on Bernie and Knox, both for slashing. This opened up the ice, but neither team could capitalise. Bracknell and Bison survived consecutive penalties, with neither team looking particularly hot, although the Bison did have some good chances on theirs, with a good double save forced from Bernie. The period looked to have fizzled out when, with a minute left, Pete Romeo picked up the puck in our zone and passed it over the red line to Mark Ellis (two line pass, hahaha!). A good pass across the zone found Mike Ellis in plenty of space in front of the keeper. Gallace, assuming Spikey would hit first time, fell straight to the floor, allowing Mike to take his time and flick it over him for 1-0.
The second period started well for Bracknell, with Knox taking 2+2 for holding the stick and unsporting. However, with the Cheif still out, Bracknell's powerplay looked pretty pathetic, and the Bison were never really threatened. Indeed, it was Basingstoke who scored first, with Priest's shot from the point passing a heavily screened Bernie to make it 1-1. However, within 35 seconds, Bracknell had retaken the lead through a well worked goal. The puck was dumped deep into the Bison zone, and Pellerin chased it behind the net. He knocked the puck to Bucsis, who was able to play it out McCosh just outside the slot for an easy goal. Bison again equalised at 32.55, again with a screened shot from the point, this time by Steve Brown. But again Bracknell came straight back within a minute. Rob Stewart won the puck in the Bees' zone, kicked it out, realised he was the nearest and so chased it, putting him on a one-on-one with Gallace, the Basingstoke defence having gone awol. Gallace left his five-hole wide open for Rob to calmly slot through for 3-2 to Bracknell. Bison survived another penalty, and looked to have survived the period, when they again conceeded a late goal. A scramble in the slot led to both Pellerin and Junkin having shots saved by Gallace, but he could do nothing about Bucsis' effort to make it 4-2.
Bracknell started the third in very good form, and could have got a couple with better positioning. However, when Matt Cote lost his stick during a Bison attack and had to resort to hauling the puck holder down with his arms, there was no doubt it was a penalty. Then junkin was also sent off, leaving Bracknell to face a 5-on-3 powerplay for 1:41 minutes. Some good saves by Bernie saw us through though, and almost immediately after Bison were called for too many men (a good call by the crowd), with Black also going for Unsportsmanlike. A 2 minute 5-on-3 to Bracknell. Finally, the powerplay clicked, and it only took 22 seconds for Bucsis to find Pellerin unmarked in the slot, to tap home his goal. 5-2. This was not the end, of the evening's festivities, however, with Bracknell again finding the net with 40 seconds remaining on the powerplay. This time it was Pellerin who turned provider, finding Junkin again unmarked on the far side of the goal to cooly slot home. This led to much celebration from Bracknell, although no more goals.
Chris Brant has ruled himself out till the playoffs. No news on Joe Ferras or James Bugden, who were both again absent.