NEWS CHANNELMK Lightning’s red hot form went up in smoke as Guildford Flames ended their seven match unbeaten run.
Nick Poole’s Lightning boast the meanest defence in the league, but second-placed Flames were able to wrap up a 6- 3 win at Planet Ice.
The defeat was a blow to Lightning’s challenge to retain the league title, although they were able to bounce back with a hard-fought 7-3 wi n over Bracknell Bees.
Lightning started brightly against the Flames with Gary Clarke firing them into the lead with 6.22 on the clock, yet the visitors took control when goals from Lukas Smital and Nathan Rempel saw them hol d the advantage.
Five minutes into the second period Lightning levelled through Adam Brittle but David Longstaff netted minutes later to ensure Flames maintained their one goal lead.
Rick Plant doubled Flames’ advantage at 45.09 before a Matt Towal ski stri ke reduced the deficit.
However, Flames made sure of the three points with further scores from Smital and Rempel.
The following day Lightning travelled to Bracknell Bees where a Andre Smulter hat-trick helped Lightning to victory in a bad tempered game.
Lightning burst out of the blocks with goals from Gary Clarke, Smulter and Grant McPherson earning the side a 3-0 cushion at the end of the first period.
The next period was dominated by ill tempered play with Scott Spearing and Leigh Jamieson dropping gloves in the scrap.
Grant Rounding gave Bees a brief hope of revival, but it was short-lived as Lightning extended their l ead thanks to the impressive Matt Towalski and Smulter.
Scores from Bees’ Craig Tribe and Sam Waller were sandwiched either side of Smulter’s hat-trick strike and Lightning’s seventh from Clarke.
Lightning remain in fifth place, 15 points behind league leaders Manchester Phoenix although they do have five games in hand.
ON Saturday Lightning travel to Slough Jets, face-off 6.30pm, and on Sunday they host Basingstoke Bison at Planet Ice, face-off 5.30pm.
