Sharks flounder against Tigers

The Tigers pocketed 2 valuable SNL points in the race to the playoffs on Saturday night as they defeated the Solway Sharks 3-1 in Dundee.

The home team looked hungry as the game got underway and made the majority of the early running. They were rewarded for their efforts in the 10th minute as an intense forecheck by Grant Reekie saw the puck break free for Paul Guilcher, who blasted a laser of a slaphot high over the shoulder of Kyle Johnston in the Sharks net. Despite dominating the remained of the period, in which they out-shot the visitors 20-7, the Tigers could not extend their lead.

The second session got underway with the Tigers on the penalty kill as new boy Andrew Henderson sat in the box for an interference infringement. After seeing out the man disadvantage the Tigers doubled their tally as Pavel Pliskov latched on to a Kris Phillip feed before rounding Johnston and firing home a beautiful, backhand bomb with 25 minutes played. With 6 minutes left in the period Grant Reekie put the Tigers 3 ahead as he slipped the puck home after some neat interplay between Guilcher and Scott Marr to conclude the period scoring.

With just 20 minutes to play and Tigers in control the hosts came out firing, determined to put the game to bed. Scott Marr came close on 2 occasions but it was the Sharks who found the net as Michael Brunton stole the puck high in the Tigers zone and nestled the puck in the net with 8 minutes of the game remaining. The Sharks could smell blood and there was a noticeable rise in tempo as the minutes ticked down. The hosts absorbed the pressure though and forced Johnston in to a number of fine saves. With less than 4 minutes left on the clock Tigers Dan Topping was assessed a 2+2+10 penalty giving the Sharks a powerplay for the remainder of the game. The hosts were up to the task though and successfully saw out the period without incident to claim the win and 2 hugely significant points.

Final Score: Tigers 3 – Sharks 1

MOM: Mark McLeod