Post by spik on Apr 11, 2010 19:18:06 GMT
Slough Jets v Guildford Flames
Final – 4.30pm, Sunday April 11 (SkyDome Coventry)
Cool Emersic Fires Jets To Playoff Title
By Mike Appleton
SLOUGH Jets' Blaz Emersic sealed a dramatic English Premier League Playoff win over Guildford Flames with a controversial penalty shot two minutes into overtime.
Tied one apiece at the end of regulation though Emersic and Flames' Milos Melicherik, both sides had chances before the Slovak's telling contribution.
The match finished on an absolute knife-edge with Matt Thompson awarding a penalty shot when Joe Greener was hauled down on the way to goal. The period was already three on three following Adam Greener and Neil Liddiard's roughing calls.
But despite strong protestations, Emersic proved he could keep his cool to send the Jets wild.
A timid opening saw Slough's Blaz Emersic and Guildford's Nathan Rempel trade shots before the game settled into a real tactical battle.
Hardly surprising as the eight games between the two this season had been split, both sides seemed intent on testing each other out by dumping the puck into the corners and trying to get men in front of the net.
Slough got their first real chance when Jez Lundin was sent to the box for Cross Checking moments before the nine minute mark and almost went ahead through Joe Greener's tip on a Ryan Watt pass.
Guildford went close on a powerplay of their own on 14 minutes – Rempel rattling the post from the blueline with Gregg Rockman beaten all ends up.
Milos Melicherik and Rempel both had chances on the Flames' next man-advantage but blazed wide with the goal at their mercy.
In the second, Flames' Gary Clarke was stoned in the first 20 seconds before Emersic did what he has done all season – scored from distance.
Taking a Paddy Ward feed, he blasted a high shot into the roof of the net (24:51) for the first goal.
It was a telling contribution from one of the players of the season and broke the deadlock in a game that desperately needed a goal.
Guildford toiled against Peter Russell's well-drilled side but did have the chance to at least gain some offense in the Jets' zone when Adam Greener was called for Roughing - but they couldn't land a single shot on target.
On their next powerplay they did make it count though. The puck was recycled through Rick Plant to Milos Melicherik and he duly smashed an unstoppable shot past Rockman (40:49).
It was the signal for Guildford to pile forward – and Rockman to prove why he is one of the best goalies in the league.
Twice he stopped shots from distance and was brave enough to dive in near the flying skates to claim the puck.
At the other end Mark Lee proved he was just as durable, denying Emersic and Joe Greener.
Slough had a late chance when Neil Liddiard was sent to the bin for Holding, but they couldn't marshall a telling shot on goal.
Overtime saw both Adam Greener and Rempel head to the bin for Roughing - and the game three-on-three.
Joe Greener was then taken down whilst heading to goal (61:52) and Matt Thompson really had no option but to award a penalty shot.
Emersic was nominated to try and seal the victory and he did just that, skating up to Mark Lee's goal with confidence and sending the puck high into the net on the backhand.
Guildford protested at what they saw as a poor call, but Thompson was never going to change his mind and the Jets took home the title.
Period Scores: 0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
Referee: Matt Thompson
Penalties:
Jets: 12
Flames: 10
Scoring:
Jets:
Emersic 2+0, Ward 0+1
Flames:
Melicherik 1+0, Plant 0+1
Final – 4.30pm, Sunday April 11 (SkyDome Coventry)
Cool Emersic Fires Jets To Playoff Title
By Mike Appleton
SLOUGH Jets' Blaz Emersic sealed a dramatic English Premier League Playoff win over Guildford Flames with a controversial penalty shot two minutes into overtime.
Tied one apiece at the end of regulation though Emersic and Flames' Milos Melicherik, both sides had chances before the Slovak's telling contribution.
The match finished on an absolute knife-edge with Matt Thompson awarding a penalty shot when Joe Greener was hauled down on the way to goal. The period was already three on three following Adam Greener and Neil Liddiard's roughing calls.
But despite strong protestations, Emersic proved he could keep his cool to send the Jets wild.
A timid opening saw Slough's Blaz Emersic and Guildford's Nathan Rempel trade shots before the game settled into a real tactical battle.
Hardly surprising as the eight games between the two this season had been split, both sides seemed intent on testing each other out by dumping the puck into the corners and trying to get men in front of the net.
Slough got their first real chance when Jez Lundin was sent to the box for Cross Checking moments before the nine minute mark and almost went ahead through Joe Greener's tip on a Ryan Watt pass.
Guildford went close on a powerplay of their own on 14 minutes – Rempel rattling the post from the blueline with Gregg Rockman beaten all ends up.
Milos Melicherik and Rempel both had chances on the Flames' next man-advantage but blazed wide with the goal at their mercy.
In the second, Flames' Gary Clarke was stoned in the first 20 seconds before Emersic did what he has done all season – scored from distance.
Taking a Paddy Ward feed, he blasted a high shot into the roof of the net (24:51) for the first goal.
It was a telling contribution from one of the players of the season and broke the deadlock in a game that desperately needed a goal.
Guildford toiled against Peter Russell's well-drilled side but did have the chance to at least gain some offense in the Jets' zone when Adam Greener was called for Roughing - but they couldn't land a single shot on target.
On their next powerplay they did make it count though. The puck was recycled through Rick Plant to Milos Melicherik and he duly smashed an unstoppable shot past Rockman (40:49).
It was the signal for Guildford to pile forward – and Rockman to prove why he is one of the best goalies in the league.
Twice he stopped shots from distance and was brave enough to dive in near the flying skates to claim the puck.
At the other end Mark Lee proved he was just as durable, denying Emersic and Joe Greener.
Slough had a late chance when Neil Liddiard was sent to the bin for Holding, but they couldn't marshall a telling shot on goal.
Overtime saw both Adam Greener and Rempel head to the bin for Roughing - and the game three-on-three.
Joe Greener was then taken down whilst heading to goal (61:52) and Matt Thompson really had no option but to award a penalty shot.
Emersic was nominated to try and seal the victory and he did just that, skating up to Mark Lee's goal with confidence and sending the puck high into the net on the backhand.
Guildford protested at what they saw as a poor call, but Thompson was never going to change his mind and the Jets took home the title.
Period Scores: 0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 1-0
Referee: Matt Thompson
Penalties:
Jets: 12
Flames: 10
Scoring:
Jets:
Emersic 2+0, Ward 0+1
Flames:
Melicherik 1+0, Plant 0+1
It's also the first time we've made the playoff finals since our debut season. Yes, definitly worth it.
