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Tallari double as Phoenix sink Capitals

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Manchester Phoenix 4 - 1 Edinburgh Capitals

A brace of goals from the bmibaby Elite Leagues’ leading goalscorer Joe Tallari saw Manchester Phoenix gain two more valuable points as they look to build momentum for the post season playoffs.

Edinburgh arrived in Altrincham on a three-game winning streak, but they were soon behind the eight-ball as Brian Passmore edged Phoenix ahead in the fifth minute. Colin Hemingway pulled the Scots level just over minute later with a close range finish before Phoenix laid siege to their goal for the remainder of the period. JF Perras in the Capitals goal made some huge saves and the Phoenix finishing could have been more clinical before Tallari bagged his first of the night on a 15th minute powerplay. Moments later, Phoenix netminder Scott Fankhouser produced a marvellous glove save to deny Hemingway when he put clean through, the save bringing the big crowd to their feet in admiration.

Phoenix went for the quick kill in the second period as Sean Starke netted his 18th of the season within 49 seconds of the restart to set the visitors a challenge to maintain their recent run of good form. Phoenix, missing defencemen Omar Ennaffati and Carl Graham, moved Passmore back to help out and the ploy worked well as the Capitals were restricted to just eighteen shots on Fankhouser through the first forty minutes.

Phoenix again turned up the pressure in the final period and Perras again produced some outstanding saves to keep the game close. Phoenix though were not to be denied and as they capitalised one second after killing a penalty on Brian Passmore as Luke Stauffacher found Tallari on the doorstep and the sniper obliged by burying his 41st goal of the season to give the home side a comfortable winning margin.

Player coach Tony Hand commented afterwards, “We’ve played well in both games this weekend.  We defended very well tonight considering we were two guys missing so that aspect of the game is very pleasing for me. We had another good crowd in tonight and they helped with their noisy support for the team.”

Phoenix travel to the Hull Stingrays next Saturday before hosting the Belfast Giants in the Silver Blades Ice Dome next Sunday with face-off at the usual time of 5.30pm.