Netminder Andy Moffat made his final appearance for the Dynamos on Sunday as they cruised to a comfortable 8-1 win over the Peterborough Islanders to maintain their perfect record in the NIHL Southern Cup and extend their winning streak to six.

As anticipated, the Dynamos largely bossed the majority of the opening frame against their Division 2 opponents with the biggest threat to their own goal an unfortunate deflection off of the skate of Grant Baxter right in front but Andy Moffat’s quick reactions spared the utility man any embarrassment. Down the other end it took the hosts until seven minutes from the break to end the deadlock and, when they did, it was Callum Best who found a way beyond goalie Samuel James. Callum Fowler claimed an assist as Best fired in from close range to open the scoring and make it 1-0. That advantage was then doubled within three minutes when Tom Avery beat his man to cross the blue line on the left side and, from out on the wing, he shaped up for a shot across goal that caught the joint of upright and crossbar before crossing the line in an excellent finish that made it 2-0.

In the second period the Dynamos quickly extended their edge to three as Joe Bliss carved out an opportunity by rounding the back of the Peterborough net, coming out in front on the right side and squaring to the back post where a waiting Peter Vaisanen rifled home. Their third was quickly cancelled out though when the visitors broke their duck in the fourth minute of the frame to make it 3-1. Youngster Luke Barber was the architect as he played the puck along the crease for an on-rushing Connor Stokes to dispatch over the line from close range at the far stick. Despite managing a reply, the visitors were then largely spectators for the remainder of the period as the Dynamos went on to claim three more before the buzzer sounded to bring the break. Justin Noble grabbed the first of the trio when he single handily scythed straight through the middle of the Peterborough rear guard by stick handling his way beyond three opponents to go in on the goalie before deftly flicking home on the backhand to make it 4-1. The Canadian’s moment of excellence was followed by a piece of similar skill from fellow countryman Peter Vaisanen who ghosted beyond the visitor’s defence and, though the forward’s shot from close right was blocked by the palm of Samuel James, the opportunistic Nicky Lewis sent the puck over the line with a well time poke check just as the netminder was trying to trap the rebound and freeze the play. The Dynamos’ fifth prompted the Islanders to switch goalies, with Simon Price coming into the fray, but they would concede another with just a minute to go in the period as the hosts took a 6-1 lead. A searching pass from Callum Best found Justin Noble in behind the visitor’s rear guard and he raced to the target from the blue line, stick handled to commit the netminder and then tucked between the legs of Price for his second of the night.

With the game all but over ahead of the puck drop in last, the Dynamos were in a position to cruise to a comfortable win whilst adding two more to their tally. The first came exactly four minutes from the restart as Justin Noble entered the zone on the right side and teed up Nicky Lewis left of the target. Though Lewis saw his shot denied, the rebound found Callum Best between the faceoff circles and the forward fired high into the roof of the goal to extend the lead to 7-1. The visitors could have cut into that deficit moments later but for a sprawling save from Andy Moffat on a 2-on-1, whilst the hosts would have added to their edge had Simon Price not made a quick glove stop to thwart Andy Smith’s breakaway. With time winding down, and with just two minutes to go, the Dynamos then secured the last of the night as Justin Noble completed his hat-trick with another fine solo strike. The Canadian glided into the zone down the left channel, skipped in along the goal line on the left side and sent a low shot just beyond the outstretched leg of the netminder and over the line to complete the 8-1 rout. In the dying seconds a brief moment of controversy followed as Peter Vaisanen and Adam Cawkwell clashed behind the play after Cawkwell caught the ‘import’ with a high cross check that drew blood. Vaisanen offered out his opponent but both were dispatched from the ice before the gloves could come off – Vaisanen sitting two minutes and Cawkwell a match penalty.

So it was a comfortable victory for the Dynamos who made it four wins from four in the Southern Cup without ever having to move out of first gear. The Islanders provided dogged resistance throughout the tie but the gulf in class was evident and they rarely threatened the home net with Andy Moffat coming out on top when they did create chances. For a solid display, the Dynamos netminder took the man of the match award in an outing that would be his last for the club as he departs in bid to secure more time with his family. Meanwhile promising youngster Luke Barber was the pick of the players for Peterborough.

Picture supplied by David Trevallion