Four-point weekend against the Sheffield Steeldogs to start the playoffs strong on the road to the final four at Coventry. 


The Cats came back from 2-0 down to beat the Steeldogs 4-2 at the Link Centre which was absolutely buzzing all night with their red towels!


Then on Sunday night the Cats secured a 4-3 win in Sheffield which puts them joint top of their group with the MK Lightning who they face next weekend. 


Coach Aaron Nell was very happy with his teams start quoting: “their goalie was outstanding but I’m really happy with the teams two performances this weekend against a tough opposition.”


“Jake Bricknell was our best player this weekend and when your big players play like that you have every chance of winning these games.”


Saturday Night Game Report: Wildcats Vs Steeldogs


The Wildcats came racing out of the blocks and had the majority of the big chances but Steeldogs netminder Dan Crowe made some outstanding saves to deny the home side. The deadlock was broken but by the Dogs with veteran Jonathan Phillips cutting inside and sliding the puck past Renny Marr.


The Cats created more big chances in the second period with Crowe denying Chris Jones and Balint Pakozdi at the back door. The puck then fell nicely to Phillips who raced down the ice and fired a perfect shot into the top corner to score his second and double the Dogs advantage. The Cats battled back into the game and got a power play opportunity which they executed with a blast from Aaron Nell which sent the home crowd wild. 


The Cats then carried the momentum into the final period and scored an early goal through Tomasz Malasinski who tapped the puck into the back of the net which tied it all up again. The final frame saw both teams create chances but both goalies stood strong and when it looked like it could be heading to overtime, up stepped Nell who played a lovely one-two with Pakozdi and fired it into the roof of the net to give the Wildcats the lead with less than four minutes to go! The loudest the Link Centre has been all season with the Cats fans all waving their red towels. Just over a minute later, Malasinski put the nail in the coffin scoring his second goal and secured the 4-2 victory! 


End of the game: Wildcats 4-2 Steeldogs


Sunday Night Match Report: Steeldogs Vs Wildcats


The Wildcats started this game off strong and got that early goal through Glenn Billing who tapped the puck into the net at the back post. Bricknell then had to go off after receiving a hit to the face, he then returned five minutes later and on his shift back he made a big hit on the Steeldogs player, grabbed the puck, went round the defensemen and wrapped it round into the back of the net! A lovely bit of skill to send the away fans crazy. That lead was then increased to three with another goal by Billing. This time he lifted it high past Crowe to give the Wildcats the perfect start to the game. 


The Dogs did battle back into the game, starting with a lovely bit of play by Walker Sommer who found some space and ripped the puck low into the net to give the home side life. Then  just a few minutes later, Dogs import Elmeri Halfors latched onto a rebound and tapped it over Marr into the net to reduce the lead to just one goal. However it was the perfect response from the Cats, Bricknell again making a great play over to Pakozdi who tapped the puck into the net to get the two goal lead back. 


The final period saw both teams giving everything, the Dogs throwing pucks at net but the Wildcats standing firm defensively. Then came a power play opportunity for the home side which they took full advantage of, Bjorkly-Nordstrom firing a hard shot low past Marr to get back within one with five minutes to go. The Dogs threw everything at it in the final minutes but the Cats shut it down and saw out the victory and most importantly a four point weekend. 


End of the game: Steeldogs 2-4 Wildcats


Still four more games in the group stage round of the playoff in the hunt to get to Coventry. Next up a double header against the MK Lightning who also took four-point this weekend.