BAILEY PERRE says Leeds Knights have established the ‘baseline’ for their performances - one which they need to stick to for the rest of the season.

The Knights have endured a difficult start to the 2026-27 NIHL National campaign, their 9-2 thrashing of Peterborough Phantoms at Elland Road last week their only win from the four games they have played so far.

The following night saw them head to Peterborough for a swift rematch with Ashley Tait’s team but they came off second-best in a 3-1 defeat.

But having seen what Ryan Aldridge’s roster is capable of the previous night, Perre is hoping the Knights can replicate that on a regular basis, starting with Saturday night’s visit from Milton Keynes Lightning, the league’s only remaining unbeaten team.

“I think we hadn't found our footing yet and then that night (against Peterborough), something just clicked,” Perre told Leeds Knights TV. “The boys were moving, we were getting pucks in deep and I think we've set a standard now, so we've just got to play like that going forward.

“It's something we expected to do at the start of the season, but we just hadn't got to that point going into that game - so I think we've found our footing now.

“But we’ve got to put performances in home and away - on the Saturday we were great and then we kind of dropped off in Peterborough.

“We've got to take Saturday's performance as the baseline now.”

PARTY TIME: Edgars Vengis celebrates a Leeds Knights goal in last Saturday's 9-2 home win over Peterborough Phantoms. Picture: Charlotte Clarke/Knights Media.

placeholder image — PARTY TIME: Edgars Vengis celebrates a Leeds Knights goal in last Saturday's 9-2 home win over Peterborough Phantoms. Picture: Charlotte Clarke/Knights Media.

The Knights were good value for their point in Milton Keynes last month, edged out 2-1 in overtime but Perre believes it could be a different story when the teams reconvene in West Yorkshire this weekend.

“Their building is a tough building to go into,” added Perre. “I think we gave them a good run for their money and we took it to overtime.

“They got the crowd behind them going into that OT and they were able to get over the line. But I think in this building, with our fans, we can really get them behind us and, early doors, we'll be flying.

“We’ve just got to play to our standard. The Saturday against Peterborough - that's the bare minimum that we have to give and if we play like that every night, we'll do great.”

BENCHMARK: Bailey Perre believes Leeds Knights showed their true potential in the 9-2 win at home to Peterborough Phantoms last Saturday - now they need to repeat it on a regular basis.

The Knights follow-up Saturday night’s tussle on home ice with the Lightning with a road trip to Romford Raiders on Sunday.

The Raiders – under the guidance of GB Under-20s head coach, Sean Easton – have enjoyed a promising start to the 2026-27 campaign, winning three of their four games to leave them third in the standings. Their only defeat so far came at the hands of early-season leaders Milton Keynes Lightning last Saturday, when they went down 4-2 on the road.