Manchester Storm ended a difficult run of results with a 4-2 away win at Fife Ice Arena on Sunday afternoon, with Joseph Nardi scoring twice to provide the decisive contribution in a match that was effectively settled by a busy second period in which all four of the game's remaining goals arrived inside sixteen minutes.
For Storm, who came into the weekend having lost their previous two league matches and suffered a shootout loss alongside, this is a welcome two points from a difficult away fixture. For Fife, a fourth defeat in five continues a troubling sequence that will require addressing as the season progresses.
Harrison gives Manchester the lead
The first period was goalless until Chase Harrison scored unassisted at 9:01 to give Manchester a narrow 1-0 lead at the first break. Fife had their opportunities but couldn't convert, and DeRidder in the Storm goal was rarely seriously threatened. Shane Owen started for Fife.
A second period of four goals in sixteen minutes
The second period brought all the action. Masella equalised for Fife at 23:34 — Nicholson assisting — to make it 1-1 and give the home crowd something to cheer. Dudek restored Manchester's lead at 25:45 from Caines' assist, before offsetting penalties at 31:20 — Ducharme roughing for Fife, Welsh holding for Manchester — cancelled each other out.
Nardi then took charge. His first goal at 38:12 — Busby assisting — made it 3-1, and Winquist pulled one back for Fife immediately at 39:27 from Neilson to make it 3-2 with just over a minute of the period remaining. Four goals in under sixteen minutes, the home side still within reach at the second break.
Nardi finishes it — Fife push late in vain
Nardi's second goal at 42:28 — Caines assisting — settled the match early in the third period, giving Manchester a two-goal cushion that Fife could not overcome despite a determined late push.
Fife pulled Owen at 57:26 and pushed forward. They called their timeout at 59:09 and brought Owen back on — a brief tactical pause — before going to the empty net again at 59:17 with 43 seconds left. They never scored, and Manchester saw out the final minute for a clean away win.
DeRidder had a steady evening in the Storm net. Owen conceded four but had little support from his defence on the decisive goals. Caines finished with two assists for Manchester, providing for both of Nardi's goals.
A week in context for Manchester
Storm came into this weekend on L, SOL, W, L, OTL across their last five — a difficult run that included last Friday's 1-2 home defeat to Coventry. This win at Fife gives them their second regulation win in that spell and will help lift the mood heading into the final weeks of the season. Fife's week, by contrast, ends with a second heavy defeat following Tuesday's 2-6 loss at Nottingham, and they have now won just once in their last five matches.