The Swindon Wildcats fell to a 4-2 defeat in the playoff semi-finals to the Peterborough Phantoms. 


A Nathan Salem hat-trick for the visitors was enough to send them through to the finals, however it’s still been such a positive season for the Cats. 


Record crowd attendances all season and fantastic support at the Coventry playoff weekend which the club cannot thank everyone enough for and are looking forward to seeing you all back next season. 


Wildcats Vs Phantoms Match Report:


It was a fast start for the Phantoms with Nathan Salem finding a bit of space and firing it past Renny Marr to open the scoring. After some more pressure from the visitors, they were rewarded with another goal, the Captain Luke Ferrara doubling their lead. Aaron Nell called a time out to regroup the team and it paid off as the Cats pulled one back with the puck bouncing off Hayden Lavinge and into the back of the net. 


The Cats came out much better in the second with more shots put on the Phantoms net. The equaliser would come soon after with a lovely snipe from Balint Pakozdi who fired it off the post and into the back of the net. After a couple big penalty kills from the Cats, it would all come down to the final period. 


The Wildcats got their first powerplay opportunity of the game but couldn’t quite create the clear cut chance to take the lead. With eight minutes the go the breakthrough would come for the visitors with Salem firing a shot through a screen of bodies and into the back of the net. The Cats threw everything at the Phantoms net with Marr being pulled for the extra skater, however Slava’s side held on for the victory which was capped off with an empty net goals by Salem.


End of the game: Wildcats 2-4 Phantoms