Flyers beat Clan in shootout for first win in a month

Photo: Flyers Images

Fife Flyers celebrated their first win on home ice since the start of December, and first overall since mid-January, with a shootout victory over Scottish rivals Glasgow Clan.

“We kept it a close game until the third, which was important,” said Kieran Craig who netted the game-winning shot in the shootout. “Shane Owen was immense for us tonight. the last four or so games he’s faced over 60 shots each time, tonight he made some huge saves that gave us a chance to keep it a one-goal game. We got our break, and kept it tight after that.

“It’s been difficult for sure, but it felt really good to give the fans a win on home ice.”

It was a game that had almost everything in Kirkcaldy, with Shane Owen pulling off a fine glove save to deny Rylan Schwartz an almost certain goal early on. Charles-Antoine Paiement gave the Flyers the lead at 16:19 cutting in nicely in the slot to beat Lucas Brine.

That goal had the Flyers leading after the opening period, something that hasn’t happened for a while. Although Cade Neilson was given a five-minute penalty for Elbowing with 55 seconds left in the period, the hosts couldn’t add to their tally.

Clan levelled 3:24 into period two shorthanded off an excellent Keaton Jameson pass to set up Felix Pare in the slot. Just under seven minutes later, Tyson McLellan crashed a shot home from the point to put Clan ahead on the powerplay - a lead they held into the break.

A fight involving Olivier LeBlanc and Neilson early in period three saw the Clan forward ejected for taking his second major in the game, while the Flyers defenseman was handed an additional instigating minor and also headed to the locker room.

With just over six and a half minutes to play, the Flyers broke on an odd-man rush where Paiement set up Michael Cichy for the tying goal at 53:21.

The Flyers were given a late bench minor for too many players on the ice with 1:15 to play, but held out and secured an overtime point. They killed off the rest of that penalty in over, and arguably had the two best chances to win - shots just over Brine's crossbar stopping them from taking the extra point.

In the shootout, only Tyson McLellan scored for Clan. Cichy levelled in round one, before Kieran Craig beat Brine in round four. When Matt Berry missed with Clan's final attempt, Owen and the Flyers celebrated their win.

"Any time you can help the team win it feels good”, added Craig on scoring the winning shot. “But this game is a reflection on Shane Owen.”