Leeds Knights deliver statement road win by taming NIHL National leaders Swindon Wildcats

Ahead of Sunday’s clash at Elland Road against Milton Keynes Lightning, the 4-1 win at the Link Centre saw them close the gap on their hosts to three points in the league standings.

They remain in third, though, given Sheffield Steeldogs’ taking a point from their 2-1 overtime loss at home to Romford Raiders.

More importantly, it fired the Knights into a stronger position in terms of reaching the National Cup semi-finals, putting them above Swindon into third, but still requiring a win over Basingstoke Bison in their remaining first round game to make sure of reaching the last four.

Innes Gallacher showed further signs of his ongoing development as a key player for the Knights with two goals – Oli Endicott having earlier opened the scoring against his former club – before import Arturs Mickevics, back after missing one game through injury, secured the points with a late empty-net strike.

The Knights suffered a further blow ahead of face-off with the loss of influential import forward Matt Bissonnette, adding to the absence of injured defencemen Jordan Griffin and Lewis Baldwin and forward Mac Howlett (illness).

As well as Mickevics, young defenceman Liam Hine also returned to add some welcome depth on the back end, helping set up Endicott’s eight-minute opener.

The 17-year-old fed Bálint Pákozdi who drove down the left-hand side before finding Kieran Brown in front. His effort was denied before Endicott forced home the rebound from close range.

It got even better for the visitors just over two minutes into the second period when, after Endicott cleared the zone, Gallacher stormed down the left and back-handed past Renny Marr to double the lead.

It was Gallacher’s quick reactions which put the Knights further ahead at 31.57, getting to the puck first in front of net after Marr could only parry Bow Neely's shot through traffic.

Not surprisingly, Swindon created more chances in the second and third as they chased the game and gave themselves a slim lifeline when Tomasz Malasinski made it 3-1 at 57.27.

But a face-off win in the Knights zone with just over a minute to go allowed Mickevics to fire into the empty net for a crucial win.

The Steeldogs outshot visitors Telford by almost two-to-one at ice Sheffield but were met by an inspired performance from Romford’ import goalie Cole Ceci, who turned away all but one of the 51 shots on his net.

Jake Sylvester had put the Raiders ahead at 28.20 and that was how it stayed until Brady Doxey made it two goals in as many games when he struck on the power play at 55.05.

Overtime was required and the extra point went the way of the Raiders when Shaun Miller beat Brady Parker – the import goalie making his debut for the hosts – at 62.52.