ICE HOCKEYWightlink Raiders 1, Chelmsford Chieftains 4
WIGHTLINK Raiders’ play-off opponents Chelmsford Chieftains gave the Island side a lot to think about at Ryde Arena on Saturday, in the side’s last regular season game of the campaign.
A three-goal blast in the first period gave the Essex outfit a comfortable cushion and, despite Raiders holding Chelmsford in the second period, they were unable to narrow the deficit.
In the third period, Chelmsford scored a fourth goal but there was reason to celebrate six seconds from the final buzzer, when captain Danny Hughes popped up to score with his trademark slapshot, preventing Chelmsford from registering a shut out.
MK Thunder 7, Wightlink Raiders 6
Despite making a stunning third-period comeback in this match, Raiders were unable to take a point from this last game.
It began in explosive fashion, Raiders’ Steve Gossett going toe to toe with an MK player just 12 seconds from the start. A string of penalties ensued before MK took the lead nine minutes in. They doubled their advantage after 13 minutes and, by the 33rd minute, were 5-0 up.
Hughes scored his second of the weekend on the buzzer at the end of the second period, assists coming from Alex Murray and Stewart Tait.
But the Raiders came out fighting in the third period, Hughes netting his second before Steve Gannaway netted his first of the season.
MK scored twice within 15 seconds to make it 7-3 but in the final ten minutes Raiders bombarded the Thunder goal and when Tait, Jeremy Cornish and James Udell netted, the final exchanges were nail-biting.
This weekend the Raiders play their first play-off matches, a double header with Cardiff, beginning with a home tie tomorrow (Saturday).
Face off is slightly later, at 7pm.