The Flyers made the long journey south to the Spectrum looking to halt a four game slide whilst the Guildford Flames were buoyant after downing the Belfast Giants on the road last night. The Flames scratched goalie Taz Burman and were also without imports Kyle Locke, Turner Ripplinger and Steven McParland but were still able to ice their allotted 15 non homegrown players with Patrick Bajkov and Austin Glover making their home debuts.

Preceding puck drop Adam Johnson was once again honored and remembered in a ceremony that has been replicated across the league this weekend.

The Flyers had the first chance after 75 seconds when Collin Shirley just couldn’t get the puck to settle but the Flames went straight down the ice and Ferguson took the puck around behind the net and his pass out front was one timed by Peter Crinella to give Shane Owen no chance. The Flyers at this point were up against it as the Flames pressed for the next few minutes looking to double their lead. The visitors however grew into the game and started to dominate the attacking play. In the 6^th minute Kyle Osterberg fed Johan Eriksson but with the net wide open the puck slipped off his stick. A minute later and Anthon Eriksson was all alone in the high slot but McAdam was able to make the stop. Flyers deservedly levelled bang on 9 minutes when the Flames were caught in their own end when Crocock had to scamper back to the bench having lost his helmet and a pass out from behind the net following good work by Johan Eriksson and Troy Lajeunesse was one timed home by Aleksi Mäkelä for his first Flyers goal. The Flames thought they had regained the lead just 26 seconds later when once again a play from back around the net was fed out in front and Crinella drove the puck home with Brett Ferguson in close proximity to Shane Owen. Tom Coolen challenged for goalie interference and upon review the goal was washed out. Flames went on the games first powerplay and straight away Shane Owen was called into action with a big toe save from Bradley Lalonde and then shut down the rebound on a try by Glover.  Right at the end of the penalty he once again denied the Flames when he saved from Lemos. In the 14^th minute the Flyers survived a scramble around their net when the puck fluttered out of Owen’s catcher but the Flames pressure finally told when Glover one timed a shot past the Fife netminder after the puck had been fed to him from the corner. Fife finished the period on the penalty kill and three times Ben O’Connor had attempts blocked or miss the net as the Flyers held on.

Fife started the second with 22 seconds of the penalty to kill and almost grabbed a short handed goal when Kyle Osterberg chipped the puck off the metal. Play was mostly in the Fife end for most of he opening half of the period but the Flames were unable to create any quality chances to seriously trouble Owen. The Flyers however began to take over the momentum of the game and their first big chance of the period came when Brady Pouteau skated in from the blueline and with plenty of time he missed the net with his shot. Owen let a long range shot bounce off him but recovered well to shutdown Glover but the Flyers again had a quality chance when Adam Holwell off the rush was denied by a big glove save by McAdam. Flames went on their third man advantage of the night and again Fife created another chance when Shirley and Anthon Eriksson broke away but the puck bobbled wide of goal. Flyers kill was excellent and it meant they kept the momentum going towards the Flames goal with a Stephen Desrocher drive being blocked up into the rafters. Flyers were enjoying good zone time and McAdam made another huge save this time stopping a Jonas Emmerdahl slapshot. With under three minutes top go the Flyers went on the powerplay for the first time but Flames restricted them to a couple of half chances before returning to full strength. Fife’s efforts for that period could easily have been rewarded when Lucas Chiodo broke away with 30 seconds remaining and his shot beat McAdam but not the post.

The third period started with both sides creating openings but the crucial next goal went the way of the home team when Owen could do nothing to prevent Crinella getting his second after a pretty play with Hook providing the assist. A minute late and Sam Talbot brought out a fine glove save by the Fife netminder.  Flyers were far from out of this game and on a rush Lajeunesse fed the puck over to Johan Eriksson who was denied by a sprawling McAdam. The Flames goal was leading a charmed life at this point as another scramble ensued with both Max Humitz and Collin Shirley unable to get a decisive touch on the puck. In the 51^st minute Osterberg walked out from behind the Flames goal but McAdam was again sharp to stop his shot. Eventually the Flyers got another richly deserved goal when Reece Harsch started the move by carrying the puck from his own end and he then went into the corner to help retrieve it and when it spun out to him he swiveled and his shot caught McAdam by surprise to land in the net and make it a one shot game. Flames had the perfect response however just 50 seconds later when Bradley Lalonde unloaded from inside the blue line and the puck flew past an unsighted Owen.  Ben O’Connor then squeaked a shot just past the post but with a little under four minutes remaining the Flyers went back on the powerplay. Owen was pulled for the extra skater 30 seconds in and McAdam made a fine stop on a Lajeunesse drive. Fife called a timeout and the powerplay continued 6 on 4. There was another almighty scramble around McAdam’s crease and the puck simply wouldn’t drop for the Flyers. Ferguson returned to the ice and he created the opportunity for Owen Griffiths to skate down the ice to find the empty net. Fife were left killing another penalty with 36 seconds to go but there were no further goals.

The Flyers next home game will be announced shortly – tickets can be bought online here:  Tickets – Fife Flyers or look out on social media channels for box office opening times.