Flames advance to 2024 Challenge Cup Final!

Photo: John Uwins

Guildford Flames set up the first all-English Challenge Cup Final since 2012/13 with a 6-3 victory over Glasgow Clan on Wednesday night, sending the Surrey-based side into only their second cup final.

With the teams tied 0-0 from the first leg there was no aggregate scoring to worry about as the winners on the night would advance. Gary Haden could have put the Clan ahead inside the first 30 seconds after a Lewis Hook giveaway in the neutral zone, but couldn't beat Eamon McAdam. Kevin Lindskoug, facing his former team for the first time since joining Clan earlier in the week, was beaten by a Ryan Tait shot at 3:32 that he should have got more than half a glove on as it deflected over the line. Almost exactly three minutes later, former Clan forward Steven McParland raced through to beat Lindskoug 1-on-0, capitalising on an Alex Forbes pass across the offensive blue line that didn't meet its intended target. 

Luke Lynch pulled a goal back in close for Clan at 15:34 but they ended down by one after 20 minutes despite being the better team for the opening five or so minutes of the game without converting.

Tait picked up the puck in the neutral zone and skated through the Clan defense before slotting past Lindskoug to make it 3-1 4:57 into period two. with Lynch in the box for Hooking at 28:03, Haden had another breakaway chance but was again thwarted by McAdam. That came back to haunt the visitors when Matt Tugnutt got on a loose puck at the top of the crease to score on the powerplay at 30:04. 

Lynch again halved the arrears, this time scoring 1-on-0 at 37:05 on a play where he would have been awarded a penalty shot had he not found the back of McAdam's net. Clan ended the period on a -5on-3 advantage, which saw Jason Morgan call his timeout to give his top unite a breather but to no avail - his team hit the frame of the goal and forced McAdam into a couple of decent stops before the second period buzzer sounded.

Guildford killed off the remainder of those penalties to start the third, but with 2:30 played came close to conceding off a Cody Sol deflection where McAdam momentarily lost the puck behind him. In ill-advised Bryce Reddick Boarding penalty taken at 46:49 put the Flames on a powerplay they only needed nine seconds to take advantage of thanks to Lewis Hook. A screened Alex Roach shot, however, got Clan back to within two with just over 12 minutes to play.

Lindskoug skated to the bench with 2:53 to give Clan the extra skater as they searched for two late goals, but the game was sealed when Peter Crinella found the empty net from his own zone with 1:47 left on the clock to send the Flames into the final.

Guildford will face Sheffield Steelers at the Utilita Arena on 13 March 2024.