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Game of bounces doesn’t go Phoenix way

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Basingstoke Bison 3 - 1 Manchester Phoenix

In a game delayed by almost thirty minutes due to the condition of the ice surface, the hometown Bison rallied from a goal deficit to take the spoils in front of one of their biggest crowds for years.

Manchester Phoenix player coach Tony Hand reflected on Saturday night’s loss in Basingstoke saying, “It’s a game of bounces and we didn’t get many tonight. It’s not an excuse on my parts because it was the same for both sides, but that was possibly the worst ice I’ve ever played on in my career. If they have to play on that surface every week, I feel sorry for them – it’s beyond their control and they probably have no option but to grin and bear it.”

An early slip by Scott Basiuk let Danny Stewart through the middle, but the Phoenix captain recovered to make a superb defensive play to deny the Bison forward in the act of shooting. The home side enjoyed the better of the possession through the opening period with good chances at either end, Joe Tallari firing just over before the best effort from Derek Campbell  lancing off the outside of a post. The last major play of the session again saw excellent work from Basiuk as he broke up a Bison two-on-one break.

Bison opened the second period with two big hits on Carl Graham that resulted in the Phoenix defencemen leaving the game to receive treatment after being helped from the ice. The loss of Graham enforced line changes on Phoenix with Brian Passmore moving back on defence and Adam Walker elevated to the top line alongside Hand and Tallari. Phoenix didn’t let the re-shuffle affect them adversely as they took the game to the Bison and stunned the big crowd with the opening goal in the 24th minute, Tallari converting the inevitable feed from Hand. Phoenix were playing well and contained the Bison rushes until just before the second break when the puck bounced over the stick of Tony Hand and allowed Campbell to find Stewart in the slot for the close range equaliser just 23 seconds before the hooter.

The interval finally saw the ice re-cut and play resumed on something approaching a decent surface and once again, it was Basiuk with another good play to foil Greg Chambers. Joe Tallari tested the glove hand of Curtis Cruickshank before tempers threatened to boil over as five players became involved in bouts of push and shove with all receiving minor penalties for Roughing. Basingstoke took the lead in the 48th minute as Owen found Campbell and his pass found Greg Wood arriving in the slot and his rising shot hit the back of the net off the underside of the bar. Basingstoke then killed a Phoenix powerplay with Cruickshank turning aside shots from Basiuk and Jeff MacMillan to get the home side back to full strength. Much to the delight of the full-house attendance of 1,362 Basingstoke clinched the victory in the 58th minute as Stewart found the influential Campbell and his precise pass found Brad Cruikshank unmarked at the back post for the easy finish.

Tony Hand reflected on the game adding, “We worked hard tonight and I thought we had some good chances, which we again failed to take. The good news is that Scott Fankhouser came through the game with no adverse reaction from his knee and we’ll look to bounce back on Sunday when we host Edinburgh.”

A Phoenix spokesperson added, “Carl Graham was rested after the two big hits he received as a precautionary measure. He wanted to return to the game, but on the advise of the physio and the Basingstoke paramedic staff in attendance, he accepted it would be better to rest and try to play at home on Sunday.”