Alternative Match Report: Capitals @ Clan 05/03/2011

Alternative Match Report: Capitals @ Clan 05/03/2011

Braehead stretched their unbeaten run to 5 games with a thumping 7-1 win over Edinburgh. Had it not been for Jens van Poucke (wearing Reid 33) in the Caps goal, a repeat of February's 15-0 embarrassment or last nights 16-0 mauling at Nottingham would have been likely.

In a game that resembled a drill practice more than a league match, Clan rested EIHL Player of the Week JF Perras and Dominic Noel for the visit of their Scottish rivals, the kind of luxury Edinburgh could only dream of.

Van Poucke's goal took a battering from the off and made some stunning reflex saves from Cook, Krestanovich and Chaumont, who seemed to have an ongoing battle with the Caps' keeper for the duration.

Some lapses at the back almost caught out Clan in the early exchanges but Michael Will stood firm. At 11:19, Tim Wedderburn scored the first of the night and his first of the season after good net work by Bruce and Richardson.

Clan looked to build on the 1 goal advantage but van Poucke made a double save from Chaumont and kept out Cook after the speedy number 18, sprinted through. A fizzer from Cook was also well stopped by the badly exposed minder.

To the Capitals' credit, they plugged away but most attempts on Will were well blocked by Bostock and Wedderburn. With just over a minute left in the first, Wathier succeeded where the front line couldn't, smacking a shot through Reid from the point. 2-0 at the end of the first and It could have been so much more.

The second period followed the same pattern, Clan teasing and toying with their opponents. Richardson thought he'd extended the lead to 3 but had his close range goal disallowed. McKenzie then had a gilt edged chance to pull 1 back but Will's pad stop roused a chant in his honour.

Landry then had 2 shots on Will, before Chalmers brought yet another reflex stop from the Caps star man. A quick break carved open the Clan defence, but Hutchins couldn't connect at the back pipe from Cingel's delivery.

Haywood then made it 3-0 from close in just before the halfway point. Cingel and Bowie tried in vain to pull 1 back but couldn't beat Will. The subdued Krestanovich then brought out a tremendous split legged stop from Reid, his best of the night. It was to be the last reprieve for Edinburgh as Campbell made it 4-0 from Cook's rebound. At the buzzer, Clan had outshot Caps 40-15.

Cook added a 5th after great individual play on the right and it seemed like Clan would go on to get double figures. The Capitals D started to pack itself tighter, but couldn't stop Campbell and Cook getting their 2nd of the night, making it a magnificent 7. Edinburgh pulled 1 back with 44 seconds remaining, Hutchins netting through a crowd of bodies, denying Will the shutout.

Van Poucke rightfully earned the MOTM while Cook picked up the gong for Clan. Edinburgh skated off without acknowledging the half dozen or so fans who had travelled through, which seemed harsh on their support, as the game ended Edinburgh Capitals 1 Braehead Clan 7.