07 Feb 2024, 19:30 | Play-off | SF | Guildford Spectrum |
Guildford Flames | 6-3 | Glasgow Clan |
Periods: Shots: | 2-1 (12-7) | 2-1 (13-9) | 2-1 (10-14) | Total: 35-30 |
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Referees: Rose/Smith  |  Spectators: 1618 |
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Goals and assists
Guildford Flames set up the first all-English Challenge Cup Final
since 2012/13 with a 6-3 victory over Glasgow Clan on Wednesday night,
sending the Surrey-based side into only their second cup final.
With
the teams tied 0-0 from the first leg there was no aggregate scoring to
worry about as the winners on the night would advance. Gary Haden could
have put the Clan ahead inside the first 30 seconds after a Lewis Hook
giveaway in the neutral zone, but couldn't beat Eamon McAdam. Kevin
Lindskoug, facing his former team for the first time since joining Clan
earlier in the week, was beaten by a Ryan Tait shot at 3:32 that he
should have got more than half a glove on as it deflected over the line.
Almost exactly three minutes later, former Clan forward Steven
McParland raced through to beat Lindskoug 1-on-0, capitalising on an
Alex Forbes pass across the offensive blue line that didn't meet its
intended target.
Luke Lynch pulled a goal back in close for Clan
at 15:34 but they ended down by one after 20 minutes despite being the
better team for the opening five or so minutes of the game without
converting.
Tait picked up the puck in the neutral zone and skated
through the Clan defense before slotting past Lindskoug to make it 3-1
4:57 into period two. with Lynch in the box for Hooking at 28:03, Haden
had another breakaway chance but was again thwarted by McAdam. That came
back to haunt the visitors when Matt Tugnutt got on a loose puck at the
top of the crease to score on the powerplay at 30:04.
Lynch
again halved the arrears, this time scoring 1-on-0 at 37:05 on a play
where he would have been awarded a penalty shot had he not found the
back of McAdam's net. Clan ended the period on a -5on-3 advantage, which
saw Jason Morgan call his timeout to give his top unite a breather but
to no avail - his team hit the frame of the goal and forced McAdam into a
couple of decent stops before the second period buzzer sounded.
Guildford
killed off the remainder of those penalties to start the third, but
with 2:30 played came close to conceding off a Cody Sol deflection where
McAdam momentarily lost the puck behind him. In ill-advised Bryce
Reddick Boarding penalty taken at 46:49 put the Flames on a powerplay
they only needed nine seconds to take advantage of thanks to Lewis Hook.
A screened Alex Roach shot, however, got Clan back to within two with
just over 12 minutes to play.
Lindskoug skated to the bench with
2:53 to give Clan the extra skater as they searched for two late goals,
but the game was sealed when Peter Crinella found the empty net from his
own zone with 1:47 left on the clock to send the Flames into the final.
Guildford will face Sheffield Steelers at the Utilita Arena on 13 March 2024.