TOMAS Karpov celebrated his 200th league game for the Bison with the game winning goal, as the Herd beat visiting Streatham RedHawks 5-2 on home ice.

Meanwhile, fellow Czech Republic forward Roman Malinik scored on his Herd debut.

The home side minus Grant Rounding, Dan Davies, Paul Petts and Stuart Mogg stormed into a 4-0 lead at the first buzzer, despite not opening the scoring until the tenth minute.

Ivan Antonov scored the first goal after a superb feed from Karpov from behind the net.

Ashley Jackson then deflected a Kurt Reynolds blue line shot for a powerplay goal at 11:39.

Karpov added goal number three, as he redirected a Joe Baird shot into the roof of the net, leaving former Bison netminder Matt Colclough no chance.

The Herd’s fourth in the first session came shorthanded, as Malinik forced the puck home from close range.

The first chance of the second fell to the visitors as the impressive Alex Sampford’s shot was tipped by Aidan Doughty, but Bison man of the match Dean Skinns made a smart save.

The RedHawks then opened the scoring as Michael Farn intercepted a pass in centre ice and fed Ben Paynter, who did the rest scoring shorthanded.

Within two minutes, the lead was reduced to two, as Joe Allen on a breakaway was hooked by Malinik and referee Richard Belfitt awarded a penalty shot.

Allen made sure of his side’s second, as he calmly slotted through the legs of Skinns at 26:39.

The home side then went looking for a fifth goal with Ryan Sutton and Hallam Wilson forcing saves and Antonov hitting post.

The goal finally arrived on 34 minutes exactly, as Aaron Connolly fired in from the top of the slot on the powerplay.

Streatham’s best player on the night, defenceman Farn, then had two chances in the space of 30 seconds.

Then soon after the same player was caught in the face by an elbow by Josh Smith, which saw Ryan Watt wade in with his fists, which earned both players a six-minute rest in the sin bin.

The final period saw the home side continue to dominate with Karpov, Antonov and Sam Brooks in quick succession all forcing saves from Colclough.

The Bison were also given a five-minute powerplay after Jordan Gregory was given a match for slew footing, after he took away the legs of Antonov in the corner.

At the other end of the rink, Streatham’s man of the match Watt and Sampford came closest to scoring a third for their side.

Tonight, the Bison return to National Cup action with a trip to the Bracknell Bees.