So on the first weekend of November, Lightning found themselves with a double-header against Basingstoke Bison to look forward to.
Although I'm still getting used to the relative merits of the EPL teams, I knew Bison were in a similar league position to ourselves and that they'd put 12 past Sheffield Steeldogs the previous weekend. I also know that Steeldogs aren't playing the hottest hockey at the moment (understatement alert!) and are probably not happy with their league position either. Even so - Lightning did their to batter them a few weeks ago but even we couldn't put 12 past them, so kudos to Bison for doing just that. Couldn't wait for Saturday evening to arrive and was really excited about this particular game. I knew the omens were good when, whilst buying my copy of Topshelf on the way in, Pucky gave me a hug....!!
Lightning were reassuringly back to full strength with Monir and Lewis back with us, and Nick's shoulder/neck injury looking less of a hinderance, so I had everything firmly crossed that Bison's goal count wouldn't be anywhere even remotely close to 12 when they came to the Thunderdome the day after Guy Fawkes night - but still expected/hoped for a few fireworks ('scuse pun). And fireworks we got: right from the first face-off, it was fast and furious stuff and you just didn't dare take your eye off the game. Bison were scrappy and looked like they would've been happy scoring any old how, but Lightning - even to my partisan eye - looked the much more skillful team. Top knotch passing all over the rink, the guys weren't afraid at all to hold the puck where they needed to, if it meant a more targeted and productive pass and a better chance of a goal.
There were also fireworks in the form of roughing. Grant was challenged to a spot of fisticuffs just along from where we stood at the plexiglass to watch the first period; nope I can't remember the name of his sparring partner but I do remember he was so much bigger than G-Man. The Bison bigger bugger looked at Grant and challenged him, Grant responded and the punches started flying. For a period (and I suspect he'll hate me for saying this cos it'll sound a bit like me being an over protective mum. Not *his* mum, but an over protective mum nontheless) I was worried because Grant looked very vulnerable, and he went down first.....then got up and really started fighting back. The Boy just laughed when I told him and said I really shouldn't worry, 'agitating' is Grant's job so to speak, he can stand up for himself and probably even enjoyed it!
In the third period, what looked like it was going to be Lukas thumping seven bells out of one of the oppo quickly changed when Nick stepped in to do the honours - arm pulled back ready to land a punch.....then held back by his own team mates. I'm told that Nick doesn't get into roughing and fights too often, so when he does you know there's a very good reason.
Bison skipper Chinny was largely ineffective and didn't take half the barracking he did when we played them last season - and not a fraction of the abuse that James Morgan did when he came to MK recently. The result of a frenetic 60 minutes' effort was a fantastic 5-0 shut out for Lightning, and two points in the bag - and I went home exhilarated - what a fantastic match!! Thoroughly enjoyed watching that game and I absolutely LOVE watching from right next to the plexiglass. Despite the after-effects of a heavy cold, I shouted and cheered more at that game than I have for a while!
Sunday 7th brought the away leg at Planet Ice Basingstoke. PI Basingstoke had had problems all week with their ice plant - and whilst that may have paid benefits in a Bison team unable to practice all week prior to their meetings with us, their rink management declined to confirm whether or not the game was on until about the time most Lightning supporters - and certainly the team - would've wanted to be on the road. Mind games?
But a confirmation of 'game on' was issued on Sunday late morning. Had it not been for a prior date at Williams F1 HQ in Oxfordshire for a late afternoon grand prix watching session, I might've tried to persuade hubs that a trip to Basingstoke was in order. But my lifetime love of F1 (I've been watching on and off since the mid 1970's) won out - and the fact that we'd each paid quite a lot for the privilege of VIP treatment.
I love my iPhone for many reasons, one of which is the ability to surf the internet while you're out and about, so towards the end of the grand prix and during our drive back to MK, I kept checking the match scores on http://www.eplupdates.co.uk/ and updates on the MKL forum. After the second period we were 3-1 up and I started to get twitchy. Bison absolutely wouldn't want to lose to us for the second time in two days, and this time on their own patch. Could the lads hold on to their lead? Yeeeeah, course they could!
Pulling into our driveway after an 80 minute journey up the A34, M40 and A43, the MKL forum updaters posted that there were 15 seconds on the clock and I said something about us pretty much having another four point weekend in the bag. Cue shouting from hubs and The Boy about how hockey just isn't like football and anything can happen in 15 seconds because the game is so fast. I obviously haven't learned my lesson: several years ago I was at a football match where my hometown team Sunderland were 2-0 up on Spurs within 10 minutes, and texted a couple of Spurs supporting mates to wind them up. We lost that one 3-2 and boy did I get the abuse all straight back, with interest - since then I'm almost always been too superstitious to gloat about a score until it's final. Until this fateful Sunday evening. To cut a long story short, Lightning conceded 2 quick goals for Bison to level up, and we lost in overtime.
If it's any consolation I felt SO bad on Sunday evening, I really feel like I jinxed it. As a few people said on the MKL forum, if anyone had offered us 3 points out of 4 for the Basingstoke double-header, most of us would've taken it - but at 8 o'clock on Sunday night, 3 points felt a bit of a let-down to some of us, and I guess the team must've been gutted - so close and yet so far. Sorry lads.
So there you go, it's all my fault (ish). Please don't set Grant and Nick on me to exact the team's revenge - I won't open my mouth like that again I promise - I really HAVE learned my lesson!! :-o
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