GAME REPORT: Glasgow’s Braehead Clan 4 MK Lightning 3

NEXT HOME GAME: It’s our last EIHL regular season home game NEXT FRIDAY when we welcome the Nottingham Panthers to Braehead Arena (7:30pm face-off). It’s a MASSIVE game towards #OperationPlayoffs. Tickets are available NOW via TICKETMASTER or by calling 0844 499 1700.

Craig Peacock’s winner with just over a minute to go clinched a massive two points as Glasgow’s Braehead Clan continued to hold on to eighth place.

With Coventry Blaze beating Dundee Stars in the other game involving the other top eight rivals, it could be a defining one in the long run.

Tyler Shattock had a great chance for the home side when a pass from the left found him in acres of space in front of the MK crease, but away goalie Miika Wiikman stood his ground well.

Lightning took the lead not long after when a pass from Cameron Burt was intercepted, with Denny Kearney releasing Tommy Mele down the right.

Mele made the entry and found Kearney arriving late down the inside left and the forward swept in the opening goal.

By the end of the first, Clan were back on level terms when Burt’s delivery found Michal Gutwald in the centre and the defenceman sent the puck into the net.

The referee used goal line technology to be sure, but that didn’t appease Wiikman, who vehemently protested the goal shouldn’t have stood.

The goal was given and both teams went in after the first period tied at one apiece, but the scoring was far from over.

MK retook the lead within the first couple of minutes after the restart when Guillaume Doucet was able to squeeze the puck in at Ryan Nie’s right side post.

But John Tripp’s side regained parity when Jacob Doty was released with a pinpoint pass from Craig Peacock and the Clan forward finished coolly past Wiikman

Michal Gutwald and James Griffin came to blows as the period livened up, which indirectly led to the home side taking the lead through a Brendan Brooks tap-in.

However Doucet got his second and Lightning’s third when Mele set him up as he swiped away the finish to draw level at 3-3.

But Peacock’s finish with a minute to go got the home crowd wild as Braehead took another step towards claiming a coveted play-off spot.