Next round almost out of reach as Capitals take three-goal lead

11:08am Monday 7th January 2008

Knockout Cup: Mobilx Newcastle Vipers 4-7 Edinburgh Capitals

WITH coach Rob Wilson's hopes of a regular season trophy hanging on the Knockout Cup, going into the weekend's two-legged tie with Edinburgh, the result left the Canadian planning a season which could hang on play-off success.

The tie was almost out of reach after a devastating home leg defeat on Saturday night saw the Capitals take a three-goal lead into Sunday's North of the border match.

The opening period of the match saw Edinburgh take a 3-0 lead and the Vipers never recovered.

Patrik Luza set them on their way by opening the scoring shorthanded at 3.44 and the Scottish side continued to build on that great start by adding goals at 10.38 from the stick of Kyle Horne and then at 14.31 from Ross Dalgleish.

Vipers opened their account at 26.21 with Todd Jackson scoring but the Capitals quickly re-established their three-goal advantage at 31.59 as Colin Hemingway nabbed his 20th of the season.

Capitals easily played out the final period and in fact could have added to their score but the 4-1 lead held into Sunday's match.

The opening 40 minutes of the second leg brought powerplay opportunities to both sides but no goals, with the visiting Vipers looking the more lively.

At 48.57 the game came alive when Derek Campbell, on a shorthanded play, put Vipers ahead. Capitals then levelled at 54.37 with a powerplay counter by Adam Stafishen and effectively put the game to bed when Vipers pulled Ryan MacDonald for the extra skater allowing Colin Hemingway the chance to hit the empty net at 57.42.

The scoring was far from finished however and Ben Campbell tied it up again at 58.18 before Mark Gouett shot Vipers ahead at 58.29.

MacDonald was again pulled and Hemingway duplicated his earlier effort with four seconds remaining to end a frantic late scoring spree.

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