Storm take crucial OT win in chase for playoffs

Photo: Al Goold

Manchester Storm moved to within a point of the playoff places with an important win over Glasgow Clan at Braehead Arena, taking the bonus point in overtime with the teams locked at two each after 60 minutes.

Clan took the lead 3:30 into the game after an early Noah Carroll minor for hooking - Mitch Heard's shot towards the net being deflected over the line off the hand of Chase Harrison. Storm then killed off a full two-minute 5-on-3 early in the period, but grew into the game as the teams went into the break at 1-0 Clan.

David Tendeck made an excellent save, sliding across his crease to deny Liam Finlay a back-post one-timer early in period two to keep Storm just one behind. After Clan failed to get the puck out of their zone, Gianluca Estevez patiently waited for the perfect moment to find Jake Durflinger across Landon Bow's crease to slot home and level at 26:05.

Clan were back into the lead 54 seconds into period three. After some good cycling of the puck, Steven Seigo's shot form the point was deflected in front of Tendeck by Ryan Schwartz.

The hosts then ran into some penalty trouble and, down two players, conceded an equaliser - Alexis D'Aoust the scoter with just over 15 minutes to play. 

Both teams probably deserved the point they got with the scores tied after 60 minutes. In overtime, Clan had the better of the early possession but couldn't find a breakthrough, while when Storm caught them on a change it was Ryan Hughes who shot past Bow at 63:53 to win it for the visitors.