Leeds Knights group leaders but pivotal play-off derby dates lie ahead with Hull Seahawks
HULL SEAHAWKS and Leeds Knights fell victim to swift revenge in the NIHL National play-offs - both losing out in the second instalment of their respective double-header weekends.
Hull had got the better of Milton Keynes Lightning 3-1 on home ice on Saturday but found themselves on the wrong end of the 6-1 scoreline when the teams met again in Buckinghamshire on Sunday.
Having edged out Telford Tigers 3-2 at Elland Road, Leeds looked like repeating that feat in Shropshire 24 hours later when they found themselves leading by the same score with just under eight minutes to go.
But Eric Henderson pounced for his second goal of the night to level the scores, the game eventually going into overtime where, with five seconds left, Danny Rose beat Sam Gospel to ensure the extra point went to the hosts.
Leeds - for who Sam Dunn, Edgars Vengis and Owen Sobchak scored - still emerged from the weekend as Group B leaders with three points.
They face Hull twice this weekend in what will prove a pivotal double-header. Leeds host the Seahawks on Saturday (6.30pm) before the two teams meet again in East Yorkshire on Sunday (5.30pm).
Hull will have taken plenty of confidence into Milton Keynes but an 11th-minute equaliser from Jordan Stallard was as good as it got.
The Lightning signalled their intent when Sean Norris broke the deadlock at 7.44 and they quickly took the lead again after Stallard’s effort when Janne Jokinen struck on the power play at 13.02.
Another power play marker - this time from Patrik Forsberg at 28.31 - doubled the home team’s advantage, one they quickly increased further when Elliot Lewis struck to make it 4-1 just 32 seconds later.
As Hull chased for a way back, Callum Field fired a third power play goal of the night for the hosts at 43.29, Norris completing a convincing win just under two minutes later.