By Kea Gerike and Juliann Cloud
Widnes Wild forward Dani Haid believes his team “can compete” after a 2-4 home defeat to the Hull Jets in a thrilling NIHL 1 clash.
This was the third time the Wild, ninth in the league, faced the Jets who are fifth in the table.
The first period saw a strong attack from Widnes with 18 shots on goal.
But the visitors opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a powerplay goal from #40 Kieran Beach.
The penalty benches filled up on 16:30 with Hull’s #19 Richie Haggar and #46 Josh Yeardley and Widnes’ #38 Tomas Vyrostek and #39 Matthew Barlow all getting two minutes each for roughing.
At 17:27 #39 Barlow levelled for Widnes with a straight shot assisted by #16 Michael Gilbert and #8 Flyn Massie.
With less than two minutes left in the period Hull #7 Mark Florence scored, making the score 1-2 at the end of the period.
#16 Michael Gilbert scored the equaliser for Widnes at 21:45, firing into the bottom right corner following an assist from #61 Bailey Thompson.
The Wild’s defence held strong and denied Hull for the entire second period which ended at 2-2.
But Hull hit back and scored twice at the start of the last period, with goals from #96 Devids Jurienenkos at 43:17 and 48:31.
The final period saw numerous penalties for both sides, starting with Widnes #39 Barlow receiving two two minute penalties for roughing at 48:28.
At 57:24 Hull #44 Kohen Taylor got multiple penalties totalling 27 minutes, including roughing and a game misconduct penalty that got him sent off the ice.
Towards the end of the final period, Widnes tried to turn it around with a few strong attacks but were unable to score again.
Widnes forward #44 Dani Haid said: “I think we had an opportunity there and we probably gave it away a bit.
“I think we are seeing we can compete but we have to keep it together for 60 minutes.
“That’s the good thing we can take away. We have a bit of season left to better ourselves.”
Haid has recently returned to the Wild after a stint at the Solihull Barons.
“It’s a bit like coming home now, it was an easy choice, it just feels really good,” he added.
Widnes will play the Blackburn Hawks away next Saturday February 8th and the Billingham Stars at home on Sunday 9th.
