Flames win it with six seconds remaining

Photo: John Uwins

Guildford Flames turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 win in the final 30 minutes of their Challenge Cup encounter with Manchester Storm to pick up their first win of the season.

Things started well for the Flames who went ahead at 6:41 off a neat wrist-shot from Kyle Lock joining the rush. Manchester, however, were level at 10:38 when Alex Robert was left all alone in the slot to finish off Joe Morrow's feed.

Ryan Hughes came back to haunt his former team with a nice deke to finish from Jake Durfinger's pass and make it 2-1 to the Storm 5:18 into period two, and then turned provider for Durflinger to make it 3-1 just before the 30-minute mark.

Daniel Tedesco’s first goal back in Flames colours reduced the deficit to one goal with 2:05 left in the middle period.

A Kyle Lock blast from the point beat Evan Weninger through a crowd of players to eventually tie the game with 7:34 to play in the third period, but the late drama was still to come. With 50 seconds remaining, Brett Welychka poked the puck over Weninger’s goal line to put the Flames ahead, although the Storm goalie protested. With the on-ice decision confirmed as a goal, Storm head coach Mike Flanagan used his coach’s challenge to review for goaltender interference – and was successful, resulting in the goal being washed off.

That let-off looked to have earned Manchester a point, but when Lewis Hook broke down the wing and Hughes didn’t cover his man in the slot, Daniel Catenacci deflected the pass home to win it for the Flames with only six seconds remaining.