Inconstisancy Costs Tigers NIHL

Tigers NIHL News

Hopes were high for Tigers NIHL going into their third encounter of the season with the Deeside Dragons on home ice. The Tigers had lost the previous two games with newly promoted Dragons, but a recent improvement in form and the addition of new signings Dale White and Joe Gilbert, would have given the club a lift.

A bright opening from the home side saw them go close in the first 7 minutes of play. But the wheels quickly fell off as penalty trouble gave the away side the opportunity to take the lead. Infact two early powerplay strikes followed by a four on four goal gave the Dragons a 3-0 lead after 16.45. The Tigers did, however, get on the board with 15 seconds remaining in the period through Simon Harrison assisted by Adam Brittle, leaving the home side 3-1 down going into the break.

The Tigers came out strong in the second and their speed was giving the Dragons trouble as the home side created some good opportunities. The Tigers reduced the deficit to one on a powerplay opportunity at 29.15 with Conor Gordon netting his first of the game to take the score to 2-3. And when Adam Brittle found himself alone in front of the Deeside net, he was able to tip in a Josh Hustwick shot to level the scores. At this point it looked to be the Tigers the more likely to take the lead, but more penalty trouble halted their run as Deeside added two more in the last four minutes of the period taking the score to 3-5.

Another comeback was on the cards for the Tigers as Conor Gordon scored his second, again on the powerplay, pulling his side to within 1 at 4-5. However, the Dragons had other ideas, stretching their lead to 5-7 with two more goals in quick succession. The Tigers battled on having the majority of the play and despite managing 17 shots on the Dragons goal in the final period, they were unable to mount another comeback.

The Tigers face second placed Billingham Stars at home on Saturday at 5.30pm, before travelling to Deeside the next day to face the Dragons for the final time this season.