Braehead Clan put seven past struggling Capitals at Murrayfield
Edinburgh Capitals continued their current run of defeats with a 7-3 loss at Murrayfield to the Braehead Clan. In spite of being 3-2 up at the end of the first period, the Capitals could not manage to score any further as Braehead first equalised and then pulled away to their final tally.
Braehead were first on the board after a bit of pressure on the Capitals goal with a score from 23, Shane Lust (assists – 64, 6) in the sixth minute. Edinburgh pulled one back less than a minute later with an equaliser from 88, Tomas Horna (assists – 11, 17). The Clan battled back, puting the Capitals goal under extreme pressure, tempered by the odd breakaway from the Capitals, but it was the home side that struck first with a goal in the twelfth minute from 29 Martin Cingel (assists – 13, 16). 
And then during the 15th minute, one of the players took exception to a bit of rough play from the opposition and an almighty brawl broke out – mercifully rare these days – with player from all over the ice feeling the need to join in. Once the officials had calmed things down and had a short discussion, eight players – 3 Capitals and 5 Clan – found themselves boxed for ‘roughing’. Somehow, enough players were found to continue and Edinburgh, with a man to the good, took advantage of the Powerplay to score their third from 17, Richard Hartmann (assist – 11) with just over three minutes of the play left. The period ended on the 20 minute hooter with Edinburgh in the lead 3-2.
Indiscipline in the second period cost the Capitals two goals as first 19, Neil Trim (assists – 5, 15) scored during a Powerplay on the 12 minute mark, followed just over a minute later by another Powerplay goal from 64, Joel Champagne (assists – 15, 23). Almost straight away, Edinburgh were on a Powerplay of their own, but the puck was cleared up the ice and fell into the clutches of 74, Matt Towe (assist – 17) who rattled the puck past the Capitals goaltender, to chalk up a, seemingly embarrassing, short-handed fifth goal to take a 5-3 lead into the third period.
During the third, and final, period, both teams were required to defend desperately, with the Capitals probably having the balance of play, but just unable to find the back of the net. It was to be in the 17th minute that the deadlock finally broke, but it was the Clan who netted for their sixth goal of the night when 23, Lust, scored his second with a strike which found its way past two defenders and the goaltender and into the back of the net.
With less than three minutes left, there was no way back for the home side and, in spite of severe pressure on the visitors’ goal, making the Clan ‘keeper pull a couple of decent saves out of the bag, it was the visitors who found the net with less than a minute of play left. A loose puck was pounced on and fired up the ice where it found 93, Aidan Fulton (assists – 5, 25) on the right of the goal. With virtually no angle to play with he found the gap between the ‘keeper and the post (top photo) to score the seventh Braehead goal and to complete a miserable weekend for the Edinburgh Capitals.
This result leaves the Capitals even further adrift at the bottom of the table, only their win against Dundee providing a bit of relief from the last eight games – shipping six or more goals in four of them – so things will have to improve soon or the fans and, perhaps, the sponsors will start to lose heart.
On a final note – why no record of the penalties? With 17 penalties being served during this match, there would be little room for much more……
Gallery of images will appear here over the next few days
