Flyers edge high-scoring game in Manchester

Photo: Mark Ferris

Less than 24 hours after losing a tight, five-goal game at home to Belfast Giants, Fife Flyers responded by scoring a late game-winner in an 11-goal thriller on the road against Manchester Storm. 

The opening period was, by contrast, a quieter affair with just two goals. Stephen Johnson banked the puck in off Shane Owen from behind the goal line to give Storm the lead just 106 seconds in, with Lucas Sandström tying things up on a follow-up at 5:10.

The second period produced five goals as Storm began to take over. They went a goal down to Janne Laakkonen putting Fife ahead at 23:36, but responded with three of their own in a six-minute spell. Johnson levelled at 25:33, followed by Ryan Barrow put Storm back ahead at 30:36. Johnson then made it a hat trick with a rebound converted off Anthony DeLuca's shot to give the hosts a 4-2 lead with only 31:02 played. Zack Phillips pulled a goal back for the Flyers just over three minutes later to make the score 4-3 as the teams headed into the third period.

Mikael Johansson shorted shorthanded to tie the game 2:22 into the final period, and although Jake Bricknell put the home side back ahead at 47:47, Chris Lawrence equalised some 40 seconds later. The game was decided on a rebound following Jonas Emmerdahl's shot, which Phillips swept home to earn the Flyers the win with 3:38 to play.