Knights dig deep to repel Lightning and show they mean business again

IN NIHL National, every team going into Milton Keynes Lightning's rink is likely to start games with their backs against the wall - simply given the dominance Tim Wallace's team have enjoyed on home ice in recent seasons.

- by Phil Harrison

Throw into the mix the fact you are already missing three key players then, just for good measure, you lose a fourth to injury inside the first 10 minutes and, for some, all hope may appear lost.

Leeds Knights clearly didn't get the memo.

Ryan Aldridge's team took to the ice at the 'Thunderdome' on Saturday night already missing experienced defensive pair Jordan Griffin and Lewis Baldwin through injury, plus one of their most offensively-gifted forwards in the shape of Mac Howlett, out through illness.

So when new import defenceman Matt Staudacher limped off just a few minutes into the game, some Knights' fans could have been forgiven for fearing the worst.