Match Night Live

Good Afternoon Hockey Folk. So we have arrived at game day, last game of the regular season. Join me (Russky) from 5:30pm for the usual MNL shenanigans and live game play by play updates once the puck drops.

If you wish to join in with our fun, why not email us a comment or prediction to matchnightlive@gmail.com and providing they are not potentially subject to legal action or offending normal sensitivities, they will be included in the coverage up to the end of the first period break.

Until then I hope you enjoy your afternoon.

Croeso - Welcome to this afternoon's fayre at the IAW. MK Ligntning are the visitors as the Devil's close out their regular league Home fixtures, already knowing they will be facing Coventry Blaze in the Playoffs quarter Finals.

Its a fierce rivalry that goes back to the BNL days, when I first started watching the Devils all those years ago.

Our lone anonymous texter is on duty today. Apparrently Mr A Lord will be icing today so it will be interesting how much ice time he gives himself.

Two games are already underway, Belfast are 2-0 up on Dundee at the SSE, and Coventry are locked at 0-0 with Guildford at the Skydome. The only teams not playing tonight are Braehead and Fife which leaves Manchester at home to Sheffield and Edinburgh facing off against Nottingham at Murrayfield, hoping to keep the score below double figures unlike last time.

Manchester usually start at 5:30 in Altrincham so that should be underway by now.

Tonights refs are scheduled to be Matt Rose and Andrew Miller, with Sam Motton and James Ions as the Linos.

The warm up has finished now at the IAW.

Disappointing to see no predictions in as yet. starting to feel a bit Billy No Mates at the moment.

Leighton and Phil have reported in to me that they are at the game

Peter Russell is on duty in his last game as MK coach as he is moving on at the end of the season.

Still no predictions though.

MKL are without the suspended Francis Verrault-Paul

Cardiff Fire net minder Jordan Lawday is between the pipes today with Thomas Murdy as backup. Ben Bowns is rested.

Layne Ulmer sits out this one tonight as well

Pat says a good result last night lets get ready for the play-offs with another one tonight.

I would want a win tonight too to keep the momentum going for the start of the play offs next weekend

Also Dr Piggott does not ice tonight.

Devils in all red,

Andew Lord gets a standing ovation from the crowd on his announcement.

or should I say introduction by Todd.

Anthem Time

It would seem it could be Andrew Lord's last game as a player for the Devils.

MKL in predominantly white shirts with Blue shoulders and black shorts

Crowder Haddad line gets us underway.

Face off in the Lightning zone

Devils pen Fournier 2 minutes for tripping @ 0.32

FOrmer Devil Hudson shoots wide and high

Also former Devils Doucet and Kearney in MK line up

Face off in the Lightning zone

Devils clear puck

Murdy in net for Devils

Rod Davies says 7-3 Devils win

Devils killing the pen effectively now FS

MK pen Doucet@ 3:22 for slashing

Fournier's pen was hooking.

MK Breakaway thwarted.

Devils on PP

Pacl saves for MK from Martin.

MKL FS

Lord working hard, along the boards

Lord gives Doucet a big hit.

Hotham clears

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL#1 Paul Crowder scores

@ 6:43

assists to Benti and Hotham

Martin with a chance. Pacl clears

to Confirm Jordan Lawday is back up to Murdy this evening

Rutkis with a stray pass that gets intercepted

Devils snuff out that chance tho

game distinctly in 2nd gear as are the Devils

icing called against MKL

Face off in the Lightning zone

game time 11:00

Martin's shot padded away by Pacl

Devils not really got into their rhythm yet

Face off in the Devils zone

MKL shot goes wide and collected by Murdy off boards behind goal

Batch tussles for puck on boards

Haddad with a wraparound efford

Pacl covers.

Pacl covers

Pacl saves through traffic in front of him

Lord hits sidenetting with shot. crowd thought it was a goal.

alas it was NOT

Faryna and Hotham combining . Hothams shot saved

Pacl covers again.

From a Myers shot

game time 17:10

Haddad held on boards no call

Martin with a solo effort, just fires wide.

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL# 2 scored by Matt Pope with a tip in

Goal review possible player in crease

assist Hotham and Martin @ 18:27

GOAL STANDS

Devils looking comfortable says our texter

Paris with a drive and a shot

Morrisette fires one off the crosbar of Pacl's goal

Face off in the Devils zone

nothing results from it. Period ends

SOGs Devils 12 MKL 4

Latest Scores: Belfast 5 Dundee 1; Coventry 1 Guildford 1; Manchester 1 Sheffield 3; shock horror: Edinburgh 2 Panthers 0

it will be interesting to see what happens with the remaining Play off quarter final match ups after tonights games,

With two points separating the teams spread from 7th to 3rd it could see a sheffield v Panthers or Belfast 1/4 final tie

Flyers not playing tonight could see them drop to 7th which could would mean they face Manchester.

teams back out for 2nd

just waiting for the refs and Linos.

and we are underway in 2nd

MKL showing more intent

Pacl saves

Face off in the Lightning zone

goal gets knocked forward from behind with Pacl trapped underneath. bit of a comedic moment

Face off in the Lightning zone

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL #3 Justin Faryna scores on a 2 on1

at 21:22

assist Lord and Morrisette

not much to report

Pacl saves from Crowder's Backhand effort

Lord speedskates back to D zone to collect the loose puck

Morrisettes path blocked by Hudson

Pacl saves from Asselin

Pope shot hits the post

MKL clear.

line chance for Devils

face off re set

gametime: 26:40

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL #4 Josh Batch scores

@27:16

assist Haddad and Hotham

Devils pen Haddad 2 minutes for slashing @ 28:04

Devils pen Lord 2 minutes for slashing @ 28:53

MKL score Denny Kearney

Devils killing a 5 on 3 when MKL scored

King scored for MKL at 29:18 with Kearney and Hudson getting assists

Murdy saves from King to deny him a second.

Devils now FS

Pacl covers

Hedley replaced Pacl at 28:53

so Hedley made that last save

Edinburgh 3 Nottingham 2

Coventry 2 Guildford 1

Manchester 2 Sheffield 4

MKL PEN Phillips 2 minutes for high sticks @ 35:13

Benti turned over

kearney on Break but he loses possesion

MKL FS

@37:35 scored by Stoffet

Devils gone to sleep at back

Pompi scores at 38:52

Murdy needed to make a save and he did.

Face off in the Devils zone

poor last 5 mins for Devils

end of period. that was poor from the Devils.

slack defence cost them dear there

SOGs Devils 13 MKL 12 so 25:16 overall.

sorry for delay had to swap laptops

latest scores Belfast 8 Dundee 5 I suspect this is a result; Coventry 3 Guildford 4; Manchester 2 Sheffield 5; Edinburgh 3 Nottingham 3

as it stands Fife finish 7th. it all depends on the game in edinburgh . it looks like Manchester v Fife and Sheffield v Guildford. Nottingham v Belfast. BUT THAT COULD change!

Meanwhile we are back underway at IAW

Meanwhile we are back underway at IAW

Hedley saves from Crowder

Panthers now 4-3 up

Myers posing a threat

a Conga proceeding round the IAW

some party atmosphere!! I wonder if Russ Abbott is in attendance

back to the on ice entertainment

Fournier then Paris with shots at Hedley

Penalty shot to Devils

Benti gets tripped

powerplay not penalty shot

MKL player is Storflet

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL #5 from Fournier @45:51

minor fracas at benches

Lord involved, Mele involved in a Melee. aptly named I say! Both get 2 minutes for roughing

@46:44

Devils break. but stopped by Kearney

Benti serves 2 for hooking @ 47:42

Lord and Mele are out of the bin

so the upshot of all that is that MKL on PP

sorry i forgot to put fourniers goal on the board

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL #6 Joey Martin scores assist Pope

@50:02

Face off in the Lightning zone

Devils break with Haddad

it comes to nought

Phil Egan says the Devils are trying but not too hard. saving themselves for the play offs maybe. MKL taking their chances. MKL support are loud and really giving their team a push.

game time 53:30

Batch making his presence felt

MKL Pen Lewis Hook called 2 minutes for hooking @54:17

Hedley saves from Batch

I am told Taz instigated the conga followed by most of MKL fans

MKL FS

game time 57:00

Hedley Gloves the puck after a Myers effort.

game winding down now

last two minutes

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL #7 scored by ANDREW LORD!

game over Devils win

Assist Rutkis and Fournier @ 59:21

Peter Russell given opportunity to say goodbye to MKL fans

MKL MOM Kevin King

Devils MOM Andrew Lord

final SOGs Devils 38 MKL 25

So Devils will face Coventry Blaze, first leg next friday at Skydome, OJ will host that on MNL, And the home 2nd leg next sunday with myself in the MNL hosting hot seat.

thanks to our anonymous texter who did a great job and also Claire, who also chipped in with updates too

Guildford beat Coventry 5-3

Nottingham bt Edinburgh 4-3

Belfast beat Dundee 8-5

Sheffield beat Manchester 5-2

so it looks likes this with seedings in Brackets

Devils (1) v Blaze (8)

Manchester (2) v Fife (7)

Sheffield (3) v Guildford (6)

Nottingham (4) V Belfast (5)

Thats it from myself. Join OJ for coverage of the first leg of the play offs on Friday.

Goodnight all, Nos Da Pawb