Video - Leeds Chiefs’ playoff hopes still alive and kicking, says Sam Zajac

SAM ZAJAC declared Leeds Chiefs’ NIHL National playoff hopes very much alive but warned of the hard work that still lies ahead in order to make the post-season.
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Video - Leeds Chiefs 4 Hull Pirates 3 - Lewis Baldwin ensures more overtime joy ...

For the second week running, the Chiefs gave their home fans a thrilling spectacle, edging out Yorkshire rivals Hull Pirates 4-3 in overtime.

Lewis Baldwin blasted home the winner with just under two minutes of the extra period gone, his game-winner coming six days after Lewis Houston’s overtime strike which sank leaders Telford Tigers in the same building.

DELIGHT: Leeds Chiefs' player-coach Sam Zajac fires a shot in on the Hull Pirates during Friday night's 4-3 overtime win. Picture: Dean Woolley.DELIGHT: Leeds Chiefs' player-coach Sam Zajac fires a shot in on the Hull Pirates during Friday night's 4-3 overtime win. Picture: Dean Woolley.
DELIGHT: Leeds Chiefs' player-coach Sam Zajac fires a shot in on the Hull Pirates during Friday night's 4-3 overtime win. Picture: Dean Woolley.
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It means the Chiefs remain 10 points off a playoff spot with 12 games remaining as they continue their tough weekend schedule which now pits them against Milton Keynes Lightning in a home-and-away double header.

Making the post-season clearly remains a tall order but if the Chiefs can maintain the current momentum they are building anything is possible.

“It’s the perfect start to what is a big weekend for us,” said Zajac. “It is tough playing three in three at any level, you feel it by the end of the weekend and you’ve got to play smart - it is two very good teams that we are up against.

“But we’re still alive and we’re doing all we can to try and make that post-season party. The longer we can stay alive and maintain this good run we’re on now, the more that is going to help us do that.”

Leeds Chiefs' players celebrate Adam Barnes's equalising goal in the third period against Hull Pirates. Picture: Dean Woolley.Leeds Chiefs' players celebrate Adam Barnes's equalising goal in the third period against Hull Pirates. Picture: Dean Woolley.
Leeds Chiefs' players celebrate Adam Barnes's equalising goal in the third period against Hull Pirates. Picture: Dean Woolley.
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It was the Chiefs’ first win over Hull at the sixth attempt of trying, with Zajac convinced the lively Elland Road rink and solid backing from the growing number of home fans beginning to play a part.

“It makes a huge difference with being in this building,” he added. “We said all along it’s tough just keeping guys’ morale up and it’s difficult working on stuff when you’re only on the ice in such a limited capacity and when you’re travelling all over the country just a few weeks ago.

“Our aim is to turn this into a tough place for other teams to come and a make it a bit of a fortress and I think we’re well on the way to achieving that.”

On a game which had as many twists and turns in the final 16 seconds than had occurred in the previous 59 minutes, Zajac was delighted to see his team rewarded for their efforts.

TAKE THAT: Eventual Leeds Chiefs' game-winner Lewis Baldwin gets in a hit on the boards in Friday night's derby against Hull Pirates. Picture: Dean Woolley.TAKE THAT: Eventual Leeds Chiefs' game-winner Lewis Baldwin gets in a hit on the boards in Friday night's derby against Hull Pirates. Picture: Dean Woolley.
TAKE THAT: Eventual Leeds Chiefs' game-winner Lewis Baldwin gets in a hit on the boards in Friday night's derby against Hull Pirates. Picture: Dean Woolley.
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Richard Bentham’s mazy run was capped with a finish low to Ash Smith’s left at 59.44, sending the home crowd delirious as he dropped to one knee to celebrate, understandably convinced he had won the game for his team.

But Hull produced a stunning effort to stay in the game, dumping the puck in quickly and getting it to the net where a swift scramble ensued and Matty Davies forced the puck home for his second of the night to force the extra five minutes.

At 100 seconds in of the 3-on-3 overtime, Matt Bissonnette was called for slashing, then thrown out for his subsequent protests handing the Chiefs a significant man advantage.

And while last week’s overtime power play against Telford took the Chiefs almost a minute to produce the game-winner, this time they only needed seven seconds.

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Patrik Valcak won the face and worked it back to Bentham off the boards, the Chiefs’ D-man quickly working it out left to Baldwin who blasted home through Smith.

“It doesn’t happen often, so to have two in such a short space of time and with them being the second and third games in the new building it’s great,” said Zajac.

“It’s great for the fans to see such an entertaining game. You score with 16 seconds left and you think that is going to do it and then for them to come back like they did with two seconds left, while not great for us is great for the spectators.

“It’s probably the best game I’ve played in for a long time, it was end-to-end for a full 60 minutes. They are a very good team, a really good team and I think the way we dug in and kind of took the initiative towards the end of the game was really pleasing to me.

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“Off the top of my head I can’t recall a game where so much has happened in the last few seconds - that one will obviously go down in memory for a long time.

“There were some great goals tonight from both sides, great play from both sides and if every game was like that I don’t you would have a problem filling rinks around the country.”