Guildford Flames returned to Planet Ice Altrincham and avenged last week's 1-4 defeat with a commanding 5-1 win, scoring four goals in the third period after a tight and feisty second period featuring two separate fights. Travis Brown finished with a brace, Mathieu Gosselin scored the fifth goal 16 seconds after Strang's empty netter to seal an emphatic result, and Guildford's Taz Burman — starting in goal ahead of the usual Fazio — had an excellent evening.

For Manchester, who had beaten Guildford 4-1 here just seven days ago, this is a painful reversal. Three wins from their last five coming in, this result ends a productive home run and leaves their form mixed heading into the closing stages of the season.

A tight, feisty second period — two fights, one goal

The first period was goalless despite a Guildford penalty for Comrie's cross-checking at 17:33. The second period opened the scoring and the tempers simultaneously. Preziuso gave Guildford the lead at 25:39 from Jacome, before the second period descended into a series of confrontations. Nardi fought Solder at 26:55 — five-minute majors for both — and Jenion simultaneously received a holding penalty and a cross-checking penalty alongside his fighting major, giving Guildford a sustained power play period. Manchester called their timeout at 51:39 with the match slipping away.

Welsh was penalised for high sticking at 35:34 before Busch and Jenion fought at 30:27, Jenion picking up a further cross-checking penalty. Curti was penalised for roughing at 30:35, offsetting penalties from Alvaro and Haden followed at 39:55, and the second period — while producing only one goal — generated eight penalty calls between the two sides. Guildford scored twice more to lead 3-0, Brown scoring at 40:27 from Busch and Jacome, and again at 48:28 from Nixon and Gosselin.

Third period — Nardi pulls one back, Guildford respond with four

Waller was penalised for tripping at 51:39 — the same moment Manchester called their timeout — and Watson tripping at 49:47 gave Manchester a power play. Nardi converted at 52:20 from Gilmour and Welsh to make it 1-3 and give Storm brief hope. Manchester pulled DeRidder at 57:58 for an extra skater, and Strang scored immediately into the empty net at 58:24 from Curti's assist — 1-4. DeRidder came back on at 58:24. Then 16 seconds later, Gosselin scored at 58:40 from Nixon — 1-5 — while Manchester's goalkeeper change was still registering on the sheet.

Two goals in 16 seconds to end any lingering doubt and confirm Guildford's most emphatic away result of the season.

Brown, Gosselin and the Nixon connection

Brown's brace — both in the second and third periods with different assist combinations — makes him Guildford's most consistent finisher across the last two weeks alongside his contributions in the Coventry win. Gosselin, having scored the fifth goal and assisted on Brown's second, ends the evening with a goal and an assist — and Nixon providing two assists across those two contributions makes the Gosselin-Nixon combination a productive late-game thread worth watching.

Burman's clean sheet — well, Burman conceded once in 60 minutes, though Nardi's power play goal prevents the full shutout — was nonetheless a composed debut start in what was a physical and contentious match.

Result: Manchester Storm 1 – 5 Guildford Flames
Manchester Storm scorers: Nardi 52:20 PP (A: Gilmour, Welsh)
Guildford Flames scorers: Preziuso 25:39 (A: Jacome) — T. Brown 40:27 (A: Busch, Jacome) — T. Brown 48:28 (A: Nixon, Gosselin) — Strang 58:24 EN (A: Curti) — Gosselin 58:40 (A: Nixon)
Goaltenders: Drew DeRidder (MAN) | Taz Burman (GUI)