Leeds Chiefs chip away at rivals in bid to make NIHL National playoffs

And, at the moment, Leeds Chiefs will take two points any which way they can, recording the club’s first-ever shootout victory in the process to down NIHL National leaders Telford Tigers.

Five times previously the Chiefs had pushed their Shropshire rivals close to head home with nothing to show for their efforts. This time, when it probably mattered most, they finally got over the line.

Lewis Houston and Adam Barnes were the goal-scoring heroes in the shootout, but the Chiefs were equally as thankful to netminder Sam Gospel, who as well as saving both of Telford’s efforts, produced another standout performance throughout.

It means the Chiefs are one point better off in their pursuit of the eighth and final playoff spot, 11 points now between them and Raiders IHC, who grabbed an invaluable three-point weekend to leapfrog Bracknell Bees.

It is but a small step in the right direction but what the Chiefs need to ensure happens now is that they use last night’s triumph as a springboard for a sustained push in order to make the post-season.

They have 19 games left in which to do that and the odds are stacked heavily against them, given they have only won eight games all season.

In 11 days’ time, Sam Zajac’s team finally move into their new Elland Road rink and they need to make sure there is something left to fight for that night, placing greater emphasis on next weekend’s fixtures in a ‘home’ double header which sees them host Milton Keynes Lightning in Coventry and then second-placed Swindon Wildcats in Solihull.

On Saturday in Peterborough, the Chiefs were classed as the hosts, although there was little advantage to be had considering it was the Peterborough Phantoms who they were up against.

The Chiefs’ previous visit to Cambridgeshire ended badly when they went down 9-2 - then their heaviest defeat of the season and a night which also marked the last appearances of forwards James Archer and Radek Meidl for who the constant travelling due to the incomplete rink had become too much.

This latest visit to Peterborough again provided a glum bus trip home to West Yorkshire, but there were positives to be had in the 6-3 defeat, as was clear for all the see in Telford the following evening.

It didn’t look good for the Chiefs when they found themselves 2-0 down inside eight minutes, Thomas Norton’s fourth-minute power play strike followed by Corey McEwen’s first of the night at 7.57.

Lewis Houston halved the deficit at 14.29 which was how things remained until Richard Bentham grabbed his ninth of the season at 27.36 on a delayed penalty call.

But the Phantoms were quick to strike back and kill any momentum the Chiefs had when they regained the lead 90 seconds later through a second for McEwen.

That lead was doubled three minutes later through a power play marker from Conor Pollard and when Will Weldon made it 5-2 at 49.18 the night was starting to have an all-too familiar feel to it for the Chiefs.

But they gave themselves a slim lifeline inside the final two minutes when Bentham got his second of the night, only for Glenn Billing to ensure the Chiefs were to be denied when he made it 6-3 with just 50 seconds remaining.

Having boarded the coach once again, this time to visit Saint Quentin Gate for the fourth and final time, the Chiefs found themselves behind inside eight minutes through Finley Howells’ strike.

But they were on the board and level soon after, Czech Republic forward Patrik Valcak opening his account for the club at 11.52.

That was how it stayed until late in the second when Jack Watkins put the home side ahead for a seacond time at 38.40, although the Chiefs didn’t take so long to get even a second time, Joe Coulter grabbing his third of the season 16 seconds later.

With chances coming and going at both ends in the third period and the extra five minutes, another little piece of history was then made when the Chiefs competed in their first-ever shoot-out.

Houston went first and beat Brad Day, while Scott McKenzie was denied by Gospel. Barnes then made it 2-0 to the Chiefs before Domink Florian was also foiled by the the visitors’ netminder. Even though he was allowed to take it again, Florian’s second effort beat Gospel but cannoned off the pipes to the joy of Zajac and his players.