Invicta Dynamos fall short but it was a much-improved performance against Slough Jets in their second pre-season match against the Berkshire outfit on Sunday. The Dynamos had lost 6-4 to Lukas Smital’s side after a heavy 9-1 defeat the night before.
Goals from Brandon Webster, Filip Sedivy and Ryan Giles helped the Dynamos secure a lead after being 3-1 behind but the visitors managed to score three more unanswered goals to take the tie.
Dynamos went into the game without Dale Buckland, Juraj Huska and Kieron Jones. The Jets missed Adam Rosbottom and Rob Horsfall.
The first period of the game saw the Dynamos and Jets clash as both teams tried to score the first of the night – the Mos using their physicality to try to gain control over the Jets. Slough’s Stewart Tait received a two minute holding penalty which gave the hosts a powerplay opportunity however, a high stick penalty from Tom Davis meant both teams battled four on four. Anthony Leone and Filip Sedivy paired up to try and secure the Dynamos first goal, but the shot was sent over the top of the net.
With both teams back to full strength, Conor Redmond hit Jet’s defenceman Liam Clark mid-ice sending the visitor to the floor. The Jets secured the first goal of the night at 07.39 as Dan Rose skated round the back of the net and back handed the puck beyond John Dibble from close range.
Ryan Giles held the Dynamos defence together by using his size to defend the net and knock Jets players off of the puck. Goal two for Slough followed at 09.02 though as Samuel Talbot was left alone in front of Dibble and he knocked it over the netminder’s pads. Jake Stedman received a two minute interference penalty, quickly followed by Sedivy earning a two minute tripping penalty, resulting in a 5 on 3 opportunity for Slough. Slough’s Talbot then received a two minute slashing penalty, which brought the battle down to 4 on 3. The whistle continued to sound and Leone was quickly sent to box for a two minute holding – game still 4 on 3 for Slough.
Dibble managed to perform a miracle save as he threw himself backwards to cover the puck before it went into the net. His defiance wouldn’t last too much longer though – a powerplay goal for Slough coming at 11:55 from Liam Underdown to provide a 3-0 lead.
Both teams were finally back to full strength after the bundle of penalties. Sedivy, Leone and Owen Dell teamed up to try and score past Brett Shepherd – Dell tried to ram the puck home, but Shepherd managed to cover it. Rose received a two minute slashing penalty, which gave the Dynamos another powerplay opportunity and Stedman attempted to get a slapshot past Shepherd, but it was padded into the corner.
Brandon Webster made his first attempt of the night with a shot, but it was an easy save for Shepherd. Giles and Dell then both had efforts on Shepherd but the young netminder held his ground. Later Luke Reynolds checked Webster into the boards which saw the youngster fall to the ice but Webster got to his feet, received a pass from Henry Aiken, and fired it between the legs of Shepherd for goal one for the Dynamos scored at 18:16. First period concluded with the Dynamos down 3-1.
The second period began and the Dynamos came back stronger than ever with a quick second goal from Webster scored at 23:49 from the right circle. This was followed by a third goal from Sedivy at who bundled in from close range at 24:30. The game was now tied 3-3.
Soon after, Sedivy swept Lewis English off of his feet and the former Dynamos forward shoved Sedivy with the two came skaters coming together and the officials quickly intervening. Sedivy received a two minute cross checking penalty and English received a two minute roughing minor.
Dynamos then secured the lead with a 4-on-4 goal from Giles. The defenceman slapped the shot home between the legs of Shepherd from a considerable distance at 27:20 – Shepherd would perhaps want that one back.
Slough’s Clark received a two minute tripping penalty, which saw the Dynamos with yet another powerplay however Talbot forced a turnover and skated towards Dibble alone before sending the puck into the back of the net for the equaliser at 29:54.
When Aiken then received a two minute interference penalty Slough made good use of the powerplay and managed to score their fifth of the night – Timo Lindgren netting at 35:04. There was then trouble in front of the Dynamos net as Dibble made a save but Harrison Lillis charged in and pushed Talbot over the netminder. English and Lillis came together but once again the officials quickly intervened and Lillis was sent to the penalty box for a two minute cross checking penalty. End of the second period and the Jets led 5-4.
Period three saw the Dynamos start with one man down as the remainder of Lillis’ penalty counted down. Underdown was then sent to the box for a two minute tripping penalty quickly followed by Leone for a two minute hooking penalty.
Dynamos were still down to three players as Redmond was sent to the penalty box for tripping, followed by Joe Stephenson with a two minute tripping penalty. 5-on-3 play led to the sixth and final goal of the night from the Slough Jets – Lillis appeared to be cross checked from behind by a Jets player who kept being pushing him down but no penalty was called allowing Sean Norris’ shot to beat Dibble at 55:51. Later on Aiken threw himself across the ice and in front of a shot from Norris to keep that deficit to two.
End of the third period and the Invicta Dynamos were defeated 6-4. The Dynamos with a better performance than the previous night at Slough. The lack of defensive play in the third led to the Slough Jets being able to have a number of 1-on-0 opportunities with Dibble.
Written by Hannah Lawrence.