While the pyrotechnic display planned for the beach was cancelled, there was no shortage of fireworks in the Links Ice Arena as the Aberdeen Lynx drew 3-3 with the Paisley Pirates.
The Granite City side had to fight back through Iain Malcolm and Jordan Leyden, before Lewis McIntosh put the home side ahead. But a late, unlucky equaliser saw the Pirates salvage a point.
Both sides’ fans were out in force, with drumbeats ringing around the packed arena.
Lynx coach Barry Carnegie praised his players for their efforts.
He said: “It was a fair result in the end.
“There were spells when they dominated, and there were also spells when we came out really well and took it to them.
“Overall I was pleased with the performance.
“We showed we can compete with the best teams in the league, and we’re still unbeaten.
“All our games have been tight with them, and it could really go either way. I’m just glad we got a point in the end, especially with having to kill the penalty in the last few minutes.”
The pressure had been on the Lynx as an unusual call from the referees saw both Calum MacEachran and Craig Findlay sent from the ice with just five minutes remaining. What followed was a defensive masterclass.
The home side held back the onslaught to survive as the only team to take a point for the Paisley outfit this season.
The Pirates had opened the scoring, taking advantage of the Lynx being a man down after Mark Laing had been sent from the ice. Stuart MILLER flicked the puck into the net from close range.
MALCOLM, with his fifth of the season, pulled the Lynx back level before the end of the first period but the visitors were ahead again shortly after the restart through Fraser CAMPBELL.
Lynx top goalscorer LEYDEN pulled his side back level and home pressure paid off when a well-worked team goal was slammed into the top corner by MCINTOSH.
It was level again, though, when Craig Chalmers blocked a shot, and, after a number of deflections, Chris WILSON poked the puck across the line.
The Lynx travel south to take on fifth-placed North Ayrshire Wild on Sunday.
Help support quality local journalism … become a digital subscriber to the Evening Express
For as little as £5.99 a month you can access all of our content, including Premium articles.
Subscribe