A HAT-TRICK from Carlo Finucci was enough for Swindon Wildcats to close the gap on tonight’s visitors Milton Keynes Lightning in the league table with a 3-2 win at the Link Centre.

A ninth minute strike from the Canadian had the hosts in the lead at the first break before the 29-year-old doubled the Wildcats’ lead in the 29th minute.

Bakrlik halved the deficit before the second break before Finucci looked to put the game out of sight seven minutes into the final period.

Bakrlik struck back again with seven minutes of the contest remaining but Swindon dug deep to keep out their visitors and claim the two points.

A short-benched Wildcats side had to make do without Matt Selby, suspended, and Stevie Lyle, groin, for the second consecutive game, while Callum Buglass also missed the match for precautionary reasons after he was forced off in Sunday’s game with Peterborough Phantoms.

However, Swindon were boosted by the return of player-coach Aaron Nell, who sported a cage mask to protect his facial injury, and Sam Bullas.

Milton Keynes had the upper hand in the opening exchanges but Swindon were able to soak up the pressure and were able to catch the visitors on the break in the ninth minute.

Jonas Höög sent a hopeful pass forward with only Finucci further up the ice and the Canadian was unable to claim the puck first time but chased it off the board before going around the back of the net and scoring off Jordan Marr.

Jordan Hedley was keeping Milton Keynes at bay at the other end and Nell had the chance to mark his return with a first period goal after Finucci controlled sublimely before playing in his coach, only for Nell to fire wide.

Lightning started the second period in the same vein of the first, but like the opening period Swindon were the team to score nine minutes in through Finucci.

Just as Tahtinen’s penalty was coming to an end Höög feinted to shoot before pulling the puck left to find Finucci, whose powerful shot was too much for Marr.

Swindon continued to defend resolutely but their barriers were breached in with just under two minutes of the period remaining after Neil Liddiard was sent to the sin bin for hooking on Bakrlik.

The Czech forward made him pay as he was granted too much space on the left and was able to pick his spot before drilling the puck into the far corner.

Swindon sent a warning shot seven minutes into the final period when Nell struck the frame of Marr’s net.

Lightning didn’t heed the warning though and less than a minute later Finucci was celebrating his hat-trick.

Corey McEwen set Höög and the Canadian away on a two-on-one situation and the Swede was able to square the puck to Finucci to fire home.

With Jan Kostal finding his way into the sin bin for hooking with less than nine minutes to play, Lightning took advantage to haul themselves back within a goal when Bakrlik tipped home a Martti Jarventi strike.

Wildcats man of the match: Carlo Finucci

Lightning man of the match: Jordan Cownie