Flames keep up pressure at the top

Photo: John Uwins

Guildford Flames kept up the pressure at the top of the Viaplay Elite League with a two-goal home win over Fife Flyers, ensuring they stayed two points behind leaders Belfast Giants with games in hand.

The Flames came flying out of the traps and were deservedly ahead inside three minutes. Ryan Tait was set free down the wing, and he turned on the jets before beating Shane Owen short side to make it 1-0 with 2:59 played. Fife grew into the game as the period went on and were full value for their tying goal with 25 seconds to go before the buzzer - Liam MacDougal's burst along the boards was almost a carbon copy of Tait's, while he beat Burman low to bring Fife level.

Bradley Lalonde collected the puck at centre ice, skated into the zone and fired past Owen to put the Flames back ahead 2:25 into period two, and from there the home side took over. Ben O'Connor came out of the penalty box onto a loose puck and slotted home to make it 3-1 at 31:55 with Tait adding his second of the night at 35:43 to put the Flames 4-1 up.

Brayden Sherbinin got the Flyers back to within two 89 seconds into period three, but that was as far as the Flyers could get back into the game and the Flames held on for the win.