The final meeting of the season between the local rivals was a League encounter, with the Manchester outfit looking to put a dent into the Hawks' push for a play-off spot. Unlike in the previous Cup game, the visitors were able to ice a stronger roster of almost 3 lines, with Blackburn being at virtually full-strength.
The match began at a fast pace, with Zeman testing Danny 'Dangy' Brittle in the home side's goal. This was quickly evened up by Adam Brittle racing to the other end, and forcing Paul Maudsley into the first of many saves, as he smashed a shot into his chest. Craig Rogers put his considerable strength to good use in only the second minute, when he deposited Hnilica headlong into the boards, and sat out a 2 minute penalty as a result. The Hawks closed down the Minotaurs powerplay quite comfortably, chasing down each pass, and giving the forwards little time to work an opening. Rogers timed his return to the ice perfectly, and he was able to join in the Hawks celebrations, as Brittle found a way past Maudsley. He single-handedly took on the Manchester defence down the left, before heading in front of goal, then turning, and somehow wrapping a back-hand shot across the keeper, into the far corner of the net. A needless call for having too many men on the ice gave Blackburn a powerplay, and having moved the puck well around the zone, they created space for Jon Adams to shoot. He rifled a shot goalwards, but a slight deflection from a defenceman was sufficient to re-direct it beyond the 'already committed' Maudsley. This was the perfect start for Blackburn, and they began to play with an air of real confidence, led by the inspirational duo of Brittle and Adams. A heated discussion between Rick Ravey and Russ Richardson threatened to escalate, but the referee intervened, and gave Ravey a 2 minute penalty to cool off. With the Hawks short-handed, the Minotaurs pressed, but came up against a defensive stone wall. In fact, it was the home team who came closest to finding the net, when Adams broke away. He raced towards goal, and waited for Maudsley to make his move, but with the netminder closing down the angles well, the Canadian's shot flew an inch wide of the post. Chances then came 'thick and fast' for the rampant Blackburn forwards, with both David Miekle and Jake Nurse going close. Then, with only 2 minutes remaining of the period, goal number 3 duly arrived. A mad scramble in the visitors zone saw both Adams and Brittle have attempts from in-close, and with the puck lying tantalisingly on the goal line, between the keeper's pads, Jared Owen had the easiest of tasks in thrusting forward his stick to score, before Maudsley could react.
The second period started badly for the home side, as Reece Cairney-Witter was forced to slash Greaves, when the forward was alone in front of the net, with only Dangy to beat. Seven seconds later, and he was joined in the box by Ollie Lomax, who's trip earned him a 2 minute penalty. Killing off the resulting 5-on-3 penalty for almost an entire two minutes was always going to be a tough task for the Hawks defenders, and the Minotaurs took full-advantage. Zeman fired a shot at Dangy, who saved, but the puck fell kindly to Sean Day by the side of the net, and he made no mistake, to get the visitors on the board. However, this set-back only heightened Blackburn's determination to secure the win, and they set-up camp in the opponent's defensive zone. Maudsley was performing 'near' miracles in the Manchester goal, making save after save, as he was peppered with shots. The pick of them was a breath-taking glove save, where he plucked a 'bullet' of a slap-shot out of the air, to deny Adams - and he was roundly applauded by the watching crowd. Goal number 4 was inevitable, however, and it came on 37 minutes when Ravey found Miekle on the right. He, in turn laid the puck on to Danny Mackriel who was moving at speed, and having taken a touch to control it, slid a cool finish beyond the netminder.
The final period began with two less players on the Hawks bench, with both Rick Hughes (knee) and Ollie Lomax (shoulder) nursing injuries. The re-structuring of lines may have contributed to the Minotaur's second goal, when Richardson played a long pass out of defence, onto the waiting stick of Zeman. The League's top goal-scorer bore down on Dangy, and placed an accurate shot through the keeper, to once again reduce the deficit to two. This gave the visitors renewed vigour, and on 46 minutes, with Aaron Davies sitting out a slashing penalty, they almost scored again. Dangy made a save, but with the puck going loose, it was up to the quick-thinking Chris Butler to whisk it away from the approaching forward. Adam Brittle and Day had a bit of a quarrel in centre-ice, which then involved several players from each team, but although no punches were thrown, Arnone and Dunn were given penalties for 'roughing'. The remainder of the match then took on a familiar theme of 'Maudsley v Blackburn', with Brittle, Davies, Rogers, Miekle, and Nurse all bringing out the best in him. Indeed, without the Manchester netminder in awesome form, the Hawks may well have racked up a cricket score, and he was unsurprisingly given their MVP.
Blackburn's MVP went to Danny Brittle, who was as solid as ever between the pipes.
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