Hemmings-Maher scores overtime winner for Slough Jets against Chieftains

The Jets in action against the Chieftains. Photo: Slough Jets

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The Slough Jets returned to home ice following the Christmas break and welcomed Juha Lindgren back into their line-up for their match against the Chelmsford Chieftains.

The Jets have dominated most of the sides they've faced this season - especially at The Hangar - however, they fell behind in this one, with Oleksandr Maltsley firing home at 9.11.

Parity was restored at 16.22 and it was Lindgren who levelled the scores to ensure the teams came off tied at the end of the first period.

The visitors again had the better of the second period and again got their noses in front through Michael Power's goal at 25.53 while Hallden Barnes-Garner stretched that lead to 3-1 at 31.36 before Lindgren’s second at 34.00 brought the home side back into contention.

Jack Goodchild then tied the game up at 3-3 with a goal in the 38.19, but the Jets simply couldn't shut out their visitors for any length of time and Chelmsford took the lead once more when Power netted his second of the game with just 30 seconds of the middle period remaining.

It looked like the visitors might just hold onto that 4-3 advantage until Lindgren completed his hat-trick with a shorthanded goal after 16.25 of the third period.

Neither side was able to score again in the few minutes that remained, so the game went into overtime. Both teams had good chances to score with Matt Smital making some great stops to keep the home side in the game.

However, Ollie Hemmings-Maher finally found the winner for the Jets with just 24 seconds left in overtime.

Head Coach Lucas Smital commented: “It was great to see Juha having such an impact in his first game.

“We knew we were getting a quality player when he signed but to see him return a hattrick was great.

“I thought Chelmsford came well organised and tested us hard which is exactly what we need if we’re going to go on and have a successful season. I look forward to our next game against the Wildcats.”

The Jets return to action on Saturday evening against the Swindon Wildcats at the Slough Ice Arena. Doors open at 5.45pm and face-off is at 6.30pm.