GAME REPORT: Clan keep winning feeling going at Manchester
NEXT HOME GAME: We’ve got a home double-header weekend against rivals the Belfast Giants! Tickets are due to get yours online HERE or by calling 0844 499 1700 or visit direct at the Braehead Arena box office (10 am to face-off).
Manchester Storm 1 – 4 Glasgow Clan
It was another Sunday and another winning feeling as Glasgow Clan completed a third straight four-point weekend to stay top of the Elite League after beating Manchester Storm 4-1.
Following on from Saturday’s last gasp win over Fife Flyers in the Challenge Cup, Clan’s run of form took them to six straight victories as they took care of Ryan Finnerty’s men in Altrincham.
It took Glasgow just under five minutes to open the scoring when Rasmus Bjerrum despatched a shot into the net from outside the crease to beat Matt Ginn in the Storm goal.
Chances followed from Craig Peacock, which hit the side net then Nolan LaPorte, who was unable to connect on a Matt Stanisz pass, as Clan laid down a marker on their intentions.
Manchester made headway in and around the Clan defensive zone, but couldn’t make any of their chances count as Bjerrum, up the other end, fired over in an odd man rush.
The second period produced much the same in terms of chances at both ends as Glasgow held on to their lead, with Patrick Killeen very much leading the resistance.
Scott Tanski and Matt Pufahl saw their opportunities denied as Zack Fitzgerald’s men pushed for a second, while Ginn stopped Pitt with an excellent save.
The Storm goalie’s resolve was finally broken as Pitt swept in Clan’s second always halfway through the middle period to double the lead.
Manchester pushed to get something on the board and managed to do so as Mario Puskarich fired past Killeen from a central position to reduce the arrears to one.
Things got a little bit heated when Storm’s Mathieu Gagnon and Linden Springer got into a fight late on in the second to increase the energy in the building.
Again, both goalies were kept busy during the third period as Clan looked to restore their two-goal cushion and Manchester looked for an equaliser.
But it was the visitors who pushed ahead as LaPorte rifled a chance in from just inside the face off circle to put the game out of sight with three minutes to go.
The insurance marker came not long after as Mikael Lidhammar finished an empty netter to make it 4-1 and secure two more points and complete another successful weekend.
The night was made even better with the news that Clan had qualified for the Challenge Cup quarter finals after Fife Flyers had lost their game at Dundee Stars, clinching a last eight berth.
