Bees get weekend off to perfect start with overtime victory over Tigers

The Bees’ new American import Gianni Vitali. Photo: Blueline Photography

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The TSI World Bees got their weekend off to the perfect start with a 3-2 overtime victory over Telford Tiger on Saturday.

The Bees began the period on the offense, testing Brad Day in the Tigers' goal with some early efforts.

At the other end chances fell to Marcel Balaz, while some sturdy defensive play from Bees' captain Stuart Mogg prevented the Tigers from progressing up the ice.

In games such as this it's often important to grab the first goal and fortunately it went the hosts way on 2.04 with Marcel Balaz finding the back of the net with the assists going to Will Stead and player coach Dominik Gabaj.

It was scored while the teams were even-handed, however, not long afterwards, the Tigers were presented with a man advantage after Stead was sinbinned for two minutes for a slashing penalty. Telford failed to capitalise on their numerical supremacy, with Gabaj striking next to double the Bees' advantage at 11.27, with the assists awarded to Balaz and Aiden Doughty.

Bees' netminder Brython Preece was in fine form for the hosts in the opening period, seeing off nine shots, while Day faced a total of 11 for the visitors.

Both teams struggled to assert themselves in the same way during the second period, but the Tigers eventually worked their way back into the game with chances falling to Finley Howells and Vladmir Luka. Preece foiled them on both occasions but having made some incredible saves, he was finally beaten by Harry Ferguson's shot at 36.09 when the Tigers were on a powerplay. The assists went to Rhodes Mitchell-King and Scott McKenzie. This seemed to fuel the Tigers' fire and not long after Finley Howells squared things up at 2-2 at 38.36, the assists coming from Mitchell-King again and Nick Oliver.

Words were exchanged between Harvey Stead and Jamie Peca at the end of the period, with Preece having conceded twice from the 13 shots he faced and Day thwarting the Bees with 14 saves.

The third period was more defensive still, and neither side was able to add to their tally. Gianni Vitali missed a good opportunity on his Bees' debut but both Day and Preece managed to shut out the period to take the game into overtime with both teams securing a point. However, the extra point went the Bees way, with Vanya Antonov netting only 59 seconds into overtime.

Unfortunately, the Bees couldn’t make it a four-point weekend as they lost 5-3 away to the Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday.

The Bees are back in action at the Slough Ice Arena this Sunday, 5pm, when they face off against Milton Keynes Lightning.