MK Thunder pushed Cardiff Canucks all the way in a hard-fought 3-4 contest home, showing great character despite the narrow defeat. A strong third period performance, where they outscored the opposition 1-0, proved decisive in determining the outcome.
Xander Robinson led the attack with two well-taken goals, showing excellent composure in front of goal. Josh Blackwood also got on the scoresheet with a goal.
The playmaking was spread across the team, with Sam Peters, Josh Blackwood, Xander Robinson all recording assists.
The team will take the positives from this performance and come back stronger in their next outing.
| Player | GP | G | A | P | P/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marks Kanins#97 | 21 | 38 | 21 | 59 | 2.81 |
| Ryan Wonfor#77 | 20 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 1.40 |
| Xander Robinson#14 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 1.19 |
| Harry MacGarvey#22 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 0.93 |
| Robert Oxley#5 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 0.74 |
| Sam Peters#9 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0.57 |
| Hayden Hagger#45 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0.56 |
| Josh Hickman#40 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0.69 |
| James Bryan#23 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0.40 |
| Josh Blackwood |
MK Thunder are in solid form, earning 12 points from their last 6 games (67% of available points). Their 4-0-2 (W-D-L) record shows a winning mentality with 4 victories in this stretch.
However, there are signs of a dip with fewer points earned recently compared to earlier matches. Halting this decline before it becomes a pattern is important.
The attack has been devastating, averaging 4.2 goals per game with 25 total goals in 6 matches. This level of firepower puts immense pressure on opponents and provides a cushion for the defense. Worryingly, goals have dried up in recent fixtures compared to earlier in this run.
There's work to do defensively with 18 goals conceded (3.0 per game). Tightening up at the back would take pressure off the attack and lead to more comfortable results. Concerningly, more goals have been shipped recently, suggesting concentration or fatigue issues. The impressive +7 goal difference reflects overall dominance in recent matches.
Interestingly, the team has been stronger on the road with 2 wins from 2 away games compared to 2 from 4 at home. Finding ways to replicate that away form in front of home fans would boost results.
Aaron Burton has been a reliable presence between the pipes, posting a 91.8% save percentage and 2.52 GAA. With 9 wins from 16 games, the goaltending has been a strength.
Most recently, a 3-4 defeat to Cardiff Canucks was a narrow setback that could have gone either way. Notably, 2 emphatic wins by 3+ goals show the team can be dominant on their day.
MK Thunder currently sit in 6th place with 34 points from 18 games played. They are projected to maintain their current position through the remaining 1 games, finishing with approximately 36 points.
With a solid form rating of 70/100, the team is performing well. Their recent success is driven by strong attacking output (4.7 goals/game) and defensive vulnerabilities (2.9 conceded/game). There are signs of a dip in form, with fewer points being picked up in recent games.
Performance has been consistent regardless of venue: 7-4-0 at home and 5-5-0 away. The remaining schedule looks favourable, with opponents averaging below the league mean. Only 0% of remaining games are at home, making the run-in tougher.
The projected finish range of 6th to 7th reflects the uncertainty in any prediction. This narrow range suggests a relatively predictable finish, though close competition means every point will matter.
Overall, the outlook is positive. Key strengths like excellent current form and high-scoring offense provide a solid foundation for the run-in.
| 14 |
| 3 |
| 5 |
| 8 |
| 0.57 |
| Lewis Conroy#63 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0.50 |
| Callum Worthington-Evans#6 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0.54 |
| Corey Taylor#16DIV · NIHL 1 SOUTH | 19 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0.32 |
| Mark Austen#21 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0.42 |
| Henri Kohvakka#26DIV · NIHL 1 NORTH | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.38 |
| James Moeller#81 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.38 |
| Charlie Conroy#24 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.11 |
| Aaron Wilkins#7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.17 |
| Dominic Wealthall#74 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.05 |
| Elliott Davies#11 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.17 |
| Haydn Tucker#3DIV · NIHL 1 SOUTH | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.17 |
| Josh Furnell#33 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.06 |
| Lewis Smith#13DIV · NIHL 1 NORTH | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.17 |
| Sam Purcell#64 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.06 |
| Sam Rickard#65 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.14 |
| Aaron Burton#29 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Alfie Duguid#37DIV · NIHL 1 NORTH | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Danny Kolisek#36 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Harry Foster#94 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Ivaylo Gaytanski#86 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Jacob Maidment#7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Jaggar Billingham#55 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Joe Nolan#36 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Madison Wright#10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Marlon Williams#12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Oliver Broyd#7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| William Rees#17 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
