It never rains but it pours.

On the one hand, we outshoot Guildford 49 to 39 throwing 20 shots on net in the third period to their nine. There’s good performances across the bench I thought, particularly from our junior players, and there’s moments in the game when we genuinely feel on top.

On the other, they score two goals from their nine shots, and we only muster one from our 20. It’s another loss to Guildford. Another in a long line now. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t remember a bigger loss to them other than the 10-0 in the 2021/22 playoff final. The scoreline is usually close between us but on Saturday we didn’t have the answers, in defence or attack.

We’re suffering at the moment. It’s 17 goals against, seven goals for over our last three games. Three L’s in a row and the heaviest of the defeats coming on home ice. I didn’t like how easy and soft some of Guildford’s goals were and I’m sure Dylan Philips will want a few of those back. Particularly their second and fourth goals.

I thought some of our best hockey was before Guildford take the lead, when we matched their energy and intensity. From 1-4 to 2-6 we looked good as well. It’s not that we were particularly bad, Guildford were just very good at taking their chances.

It’s such a fast start, end-to-end from the get-go. Guildford have the first shot in anger, straight from the faceoff. We race up the other end, it’s dropped off to Pete Toth who sends one wide from the right.

Marton Szasz puts is across the slot amidst wild confusion in the Guildford defence but it comes to nothing. Guildford are in on the breakaway but Dylan makes the save at the back post. Ruskin Springer Hughes picks a pocket and puts a wrister on net from the left, deflected out of bounds.

Carl Etuazim had a great game and was justly rewarded with the Player of the Match award. He shows fantastic coordination to pull the puck out of the air and take it round the net, just can’t find a pass. Johan Persson hits the ice to deny a shot with a great block. Ten minutes gone and it’s a very even game. The energy’s good, we’re winning battles and keeping Guildford out.

Marton’s back defending. He steals the puck, releases Benet Beldecos who finds Stuart Appleby whose shot’s blocked. Dylan gloves one from the right.

Guildford’s first goal comes on the power play. They work the puck across the offensive zone, side to side then behind the goal line and out in front where it’s lifted into the net from the slot. A well worked goal. They’re so organised.

Guildford come again, and this time Courtney Grant’s there to dive and block a pass by the crease. Will Nowik and Ruskin combine, carrying the puck to the goal but can’t manufacture a shooting chance. Conner Smith with a snapshot wide.

It’s an unfortunate end to the period, for all Haringey’s effort. Dylan makes the save from a shot from the high slot but it goes through him and trickles in to make it 0-2. With seconds left in the period, the Phoenix score again with a breakaway from the left, going around the netminder and scoring bottom right.

0-3 at the end of the first wasn’t representative of the period. But like the rest of the game, Guildford didn’t need any encouragement to create goalscoring opportunities, and then take them.

Start of the second and Haringey are looking for a way back into this. Cameron Pow makes a great poke check to break up the attack. Ryan McFarlane’s patrolling and block’s a shot in the slot. There’s a stick save made by Dylan, and Marton shows his talent at both ends, first stopping a shot in the defensive zone then firing over the bar moments later.

Dylan’s called into action again, making a fantastic point blank save at the crease. Carl finds Conner from centre ice who slams a slapshot wide. Pete has another go from the point but can’t find the net. Plenty of positive play.

The fourth goal happens very quickly and I couldn’t really see it. There’s confusion at the near post, I thought it was an own goal initially, but it somehow squirms over the line nearside and is chalked down as a Josh Sherrington goal. Just completely out of nothing.

Less than a minute later though and Haringey are up and running. Marton goes coast to coast, heads to the net, is denied on the doorstep but Stu is there to follow-up nearside and give the Huskies liftoff. A very much needed 1-4.

Finally, a livener. Haringey are up and the fans have something to cheer about. Ryan Payne shows good strength on the boards and determination to keep the puck. There’s a storm of shots on the Guildford net in quick succession, but Jake Stoodley does very well to keep them all out. With three minutes left they strike again. Theo Sire with stick control for days, across the blue line, bears left and roofs it. Great goal but an absolute sucker punch. He always scores against us I swear.

Haringey throw everything at it in the third.

Ryan Payne has a look from the point, kicked out. Marton’s all muscle and energy but has no support. Ruskin turns it over again and his shot from the right’s gloved. Conner rips it from the hashmarks, and it’s held again. A good chance.

Rob Rejna carries it all the way but can’t find a teammate in the slot. There’s a lifeline thrown with 14 left in the game. Oli Cooper gains the zone, great control in the slot and shoots low right to make it 2-5. Moooooooose. There’s hope yet.

Carl shows hands again, rounds the net and finds Marton, but can’t get a shot off. One of the best chances late on falls to Benet after Ruskin plays it across the slot, but he misses it completely. Total air shot. Unlucky as that was a very good opportunity.

It’s sadly not to be though. Guildford make it 2-6 with a simple pass across the slot, whacked it at the back post. Haringey huff and puff but they can’t claw back the deficit. With less than two minutes remaining Guildford extend their lead to 2-7, a backhander across goal top corner. Ugh.

I’m expecting a big reaction this weekend, Saturday in particular. I think a fourth straight loss would be a problem, especially with Invicta on Sunday and MK the following weekend. It’s Guildford on the road the weekend after that…

My only concern is that Lee Valley aren’t the Lee Valley of old. They beat us in the Eddie Joseph Memorial Cup last year, and we scraped past them 4-3 and 3-2 in the league games. This year they’ve already beaten the Mustangs, taken Chelmsford to overtime and come away 2-5 against Guildford at the Spectrum.

We have the quality to beat Lee Valley, and we should beat them, but we have to do it on the ice. It would be nice if we could have a reset here, put this behind us and put some points on the board.

See you on Saturday.

Let’s Go Huskies.