Solihull Barons – Blackburn Hawks

Recap

Zoo Accounting Solihull Barons : 7
Blackburn Hawks : 3

The Zoo Accounting Solihull Barons knocked up a fairly convincing win over the Blackburn Hawks on Sunday evening to add an extra two points to the league campaign table with Filip Byfält picking up his first goal and first Man of the Match in a Barons shirt.

After nine minutes Filip Byfält got the Barons opening goal and his first goal as a Baron. Some hustling of the puck by Byfält allowing a lay off to Rich Slater who then returned the puck to the Finn for the opener. Two minutes later and the Hawks equalised as the puck escaped the view of Graham Laverick and Damani James found the net for the visitors. With 6 minutes left on the first period clock, the visitors pushed into the lead, Jacob Lutwyche breaking up the ice before cutting in and firing home from 20 feet. The Barons would quickly counter however, as Matt Maurice found the gaps for Solihull’s second. The period would be rounded off by a classy Marcus Maynard goal, the Barons captain picking up a loose puck before taking it on a tour of the Hawks end culminating in a deft shot into the visitor’s net.

By four minutes of the second the Hawks had equalised shorthanded as the Barons offered no cover for slow changing Hawks players leading to a relatively easy third for Blackburn. Solihull quickly countered however and by the sixth minute were back ahead – Matt Maurice with his second of the evening. The Solihull lead extended to two goals on the 13th minute of the second as Andy Whitehouse lofted the puck beyond young Hawks goalie Ben Keddie to give Solihull 5 goals. Following some fisticuffs involving Andy Hayward and Devids Jurinenoks, the outcome on penalties gave the Barons a net 2+2 powerplay the first of which was quickly converted by Phil Mulcahy.

Niklas Ottosson had a superb short-handed solo effort for the Barons early into the third period. The Swede, with a deft flick from fore hand to back hand giving Solihull number 7. By mid-period the Barons ran into a succession of minor penalties but survived these unscathed and there would be no further goals to give Solihull a comfortable 7-3 win.

It is another home tie for the Barons this Sunday when the Whitley Warriors make the long trip down from the North East. The two sides have met once this season with the always physically strong and technically savvy Whitley getting the points at their home rink. Can the Barons balance things out? Face-off 5:30pm.

Barons Man of the Match, Filip Byfält

Hawks Man of the Match, Brodie Kaye

 

Elsewhere in the League