Third period wins it for Storm

Photo: Mark Ferris

Two goals 37 seconds apart helped Manchester Storm to a home win over Fife Flyers at the Storm Shelter, putting Manchester clear in sixth in the Viaplay Elite League table in front of 1,907 fans.

Goals in the opening and closing minutes of the period had the sides tied at one each after the first period at the Storm Shelter. Having hit the iron on the same shift as the Flyers pressed forward early on, Michael Johansson was found alone at the far post to open the scoring with only 47 seconds played. The visitors ended the period on the powerplay but Storm broke 2-on-1 where Scott Simmonds beat Shane Owen wrist a well-placed wrist shot to tie things up with six seconds left in the period.

After a couple of powerplays for the Flyers, Manchester then had their own chance to go ahead with a man advantage off a slashing call on Kamerin Nault. However, after the teams came back to full strength Brayden Sherbinin snuck into the play to shoot past Brodeur and put the visitors back ahead with 36:18 played.

A series of penalties on the Flyers at the start of period three, including a major on Chris Gerrie for boarding, put the Storm on a 5-on-3 advantage that they used to full effect. Dallas Ehrharst tied the game at 45:05 coming in at the back post, while with the Flyers back to four skaters Anthony DeLuca was left alone in the slot to fire home and put the Storm 3-2 ahead.

Fife chased the game with Owen pulled late, but Storm forced the puck free and Zac Herrmann found the empty net with 70 seconds remaining.