Guildford Flames claimed a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over Glasgow Clan in what turned out to be one of the more dramatic EIHL contests of the season. Glasgow led twice, Guildford equalised twice, and when sixty minutes couldn't separate the sides it was Charlie Curti who settled it — converting at 60:57 of overtime to send the Flames home with two points.

It was a game that had everything: a disallowed goal, a video review, a fiery third period with four separate penalties, and a finish that went right to the wire.

A scrappy opening period

The first period was tight and physical, producing more penalties than goals. Guildford's Charlie Curti was called for slashing at 10:56, while Glasgow's Tristin Langan was penalised for cross-checking at 6:25. Neither side managed to convert on the power play.

There was also a major talking point for the Flames at 16:53, when the referees initiated a video review on what would have been a Guildford goal — the ruling came back that the puck had been deflected into the net with a high stick, and the goal was ruled out. Glasgow's Jason Fram was penalised for holding at 17:46 shortly after, but the period ended 0-0.

Both sides were clearly feeling each other out. The goalkeepers — Justin Fazio for Guildford and Liam Soulière for Glasgow — were relatively untested but alert throughout.

The second period finally produced the goals the game had been building towards.

Mick Messner gave Glasgow the lead at 30:30, finishing from Jason Fram and Miihkali Teppo's build-up play to make it 1-0. The Clan looked composed and were threatening to take control. But Tyler Preziuso had other ideas. The Flames forward levelled things up at 34:51 with an unassisted goal — a moment of individual quality that reset the contest entirely.

Going into the second break it was 1-1, and anyone's game.

The third period was where the game truly came alive, though not always for the right reasons. Guildford accumulated four penalties in the period — Racine for hooking at 43:21, Watson for tripping at 49:43, Racine again for roughing at 50:37, and Alvaro for cross-checking at 55:27. Glasgow's Rylan Schwartz was also penalised for roughing at 50:37 as tempers frayed.

Amidst all the stoppages, the goals kept coming. Cade Neilson put Glasgow back in front at 48:16, finishing from Brady Risk's assist to make it 2-1. It looked like it might be enough. Cole Ully had other ideas — his goal at 48:48, set up by Mathieu Gosselin and Ethan Strang, levelled it again at 2-2. Two goals in 32 seconds. The arena was rocking.

Neither side could find a winner in the final ten minutes of regulation, sending the game to overtime.

Curti seals it

In overtime it was Guildford who struck. Charlie Curti — the same man who had been penalised in the first period — made amends in the most emphatic fashion, converting at 60:57 from Gosselin and Cole Ully's assists to win it 3-2 for the Flames.

For Guildford, it was a brilliant away performance — twice pegged back, never broken. For Glasgow, a game they led twice and ultimately couldn't hold. The fine margins that define EIHL hockey were on full display.