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Super Phoenix slay Giants

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Manchester Phoenix 6 – 3 Belfast Giants

A blistering first period from the Manchester Phoenix set them on the road to victory against the high-flying Belfast Giants on Sunday evening. A brace of goals from leading scorer Joe Tallari and a superb Man of the Match show from Brian Passmore were just two highlights from a thrilling encounter that saw quarter asked and none given.

Totally focused on gaining sixth place in the bmibaby Elite League standings before the post-season playoffs, Phoenix were keen to hit Belfast hard as the visitors were playing their third game in four nights. And Phoenix got the start they wanted as despite being short-handed, with Passmore in the penalty box, Joe Tallari won the puck in front of the Giants goal to fire the home side in front in the third minute. The Giants, with only one loss in their last seventeen outings, hit back inside a minute as Peter Campbell beat on-loan goalie Steve Fone from the slot. The Giants were showing few signs of fatigue and there was no shortage of physical play as both teams tried to impose themselves. Phoenix though hit a true purple path scoring three goals in a 90-second spell just past the midway point of the opening period. Belfast drew two Slashing penalties on Gavalier and Dutiame respectively and the Phoenix made them pay a heavy price for their indiscretions. Simon Mangos fired a superb shot from the left wing high into the top corner on the two-man advantage at 12.19 and Tallari added his second of the game just over a minute later. Barely had the crowd regained their seats and with the Giants back at five skaters than Luke Stauffacher blasted home the Phoenix fourth goal of a superb opening period.

If the Phoenix thought Belfast were finished with, they were made to think again in the second period as the Giants found their second wind. But, it took a mistake at the back and the Phoenix fifth goal, from player coach Tony Hand to spark the visitors’ response. Hand stripped the puck away from the Giants defence behind the goal and had time to step out in front and lift the puck over Stevie Lyle in the 26th minute. Belfast dug in and pulled a goal back on 27 minutes, Trevor Johnson converting on a powerplay with Passmore again in solitary. This goal served to boost the Giants and they began to take control of the play and to rain shots in on Steve Fone. The on-loan, from Coventry, goalie though was not rattled and made some excellent saves to keep the Giants at bay until Scott Cameron pierced his defences in the 35th minute to send the teams to the second break with Phoenix 5-3 to the good.

The final period saw some big hits and more physical play as the Giants seemed to sense that Brian Passmore was a danger man. More than once, he seemed to be targeted by Giants defensemen and at one point, when pinned to the boards in front of the Giants bench, he reacted by throwing a punch at a Belfast player goading him. Shortly afterwards, Passmore hurt the Giants on the scoreboard as taking a pass from Hand, he skated to the left of the goal before firing an inch-perfect shot from a tight angle into the top corner. Try as they could, the Giants were unable to find any further serious goal scoring threat and despite outshooting their hosts, they suffered only their second loss in their last eighteen games.

Speaking afterwards, Phoenix player coach Tony Hand commented, “That’s a big win for us to keep us hard on the heels of Cardiff for sixth place in the table. The Giants are arguably the best team in the league right now and they gave us a heck of a game. I told the guys to be wary of them for the full sixty minutes and so it proved as they gave it their all. I’m pleased with the way our guys went about the job and scoring three goals on special teams was particularly pleasing.”

Steve Fone, who deputised for the injured Scott Fankhouser was understandably happy too with another win in Phoenix colours and he said, “I’ve really enjoyed joining the Phoenix for these three games. Everyone has made me feel so welcome; it’s been a lot of fun and a great experience for me.”