The Invicta Dynamos started their play-off campaign coming back twice from a losing position to claim a draw in the first leg away at Solent Devils.
Invicta took to the ice without the services of Mark Lee, Steve Nightingale, Harrison Lillis, Grant Baxter and Callum Fowler with Billy Phillips once again playing in a Dynamo’s shirt. Solent surprisingly had no Chico Cole guarding their net so Sam Calder deputised.
The first period started with Alex Cole producing a save from Mark McGill within 2 minutes. Invicta turned the play up the other end shortly afterwards with Adam McNicoll going close on 3 minutes.
McNicoll was again in the thick of the action when he battled for the puck and sent Mitchell Murray crashing to the ice bottom first. Shortly afterwards, Billy Phillips shot his first of numerous attempts on 4:40 with an effort from the left that crept just wide.
It was to be an eventual evening for Billy Phillips as proven after 6 minutes when he produced a massive hit on Mitchell Murray sending Murray to the ground yet again.
A Nicky Lewis high stick followed by a minor roughing call had the Welshman sit in the penalty box for 4 minutes with Solent import Drew Campbell getting 2 minutes for roughing. Solent broke the deadlock on 13:31 with Andy MaGee poaching Solent in front after being assisted by Mitchell Murray and Ben Lock.
Ralf Circenis showed the agitator side to his game when he took a cheap shot at Billy Phillips only for the Dynamos hard man to show Circenis he won’t be messed with.
A huddle of players ended up getting involved with penalties awarded against Invicta’s Billy Phillips, Adam McNicoll, Michal Oravec and Solent’s Mitchel Murray and Ralf Circenis. The penalties meant that Invicta were one man short on the ice and Solent took advantage by scoring a powerplay goal on 17:45 through Alex Sampford and assisted by George Norcliffe.
The Dynamos heaped pressure on Solent straight from the start of the second period with Elliot Dewey going very close on 22 minutes only for Calder to save with his right leg. Mitchel Murray was penalised on 22:43 and the Dynamos made him pay by scoring through Billy Phillips on 22:43 after being set up by Juraj Huska.
A few seconds later with 23:05 on the clock Adam McNicoll got Invicta back level when he tucked the puck underneath Calder and into the back of the net with Arran Strawson claiming the assist. Invicta were now seeking to take the lead and both Huska and Phillips had attempts saved, whilst Michal Oravec drilled the puck across the goal on 25:55 with McNicoll only an inch away from stabbing home the puck.
Billy Phillips was soon again in the penalty box which was punished by Solent scoring again through MaGee on 28:03 to give the home side a 3-2 lead.
The Dynamos started the third period with attempts that fell to Oravec and McNicoll but neither could convert the chances into goals. Huska and Strawson both tested Calder before Kevin Parrish called a time out on 48:00.
With time creeping-on lovely play by Michal Oravec set-up Andy Smith but the Dynamos forward could not seize the opportunity. Huska took a shot on 52.05 which Calder smothered but the puck started to creep to the goal line once Murray touched it – almost a goal but eventually made safe by the Devils.
For all his good work Solent’s netminder Sam Calder let the puck slip in front of him on 57:38 which fell to Andy Smith who was on hand to score and make the score line read 3-3.
The game closed with Billy Philips once again going close but the Dynamos ended up taking a draw into Sundays home leg.
Man of the match award went to Invicta’s Andy Smith and Solent’s Sam Calder. Mark McGill ended up with a save percentage of 94.23% having faced 52 shots.