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Stingrays push Phoenix in hooking hell

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Hull Stingrays 2 - 3 Manchester Phoenix

Manchester Phoenix gained two valuable points from their Saturday night trip to Hull in a game that saw no less than seven Hooking penalties dished out by referee Michael Hicks.

Phoenix got off to the perfect start as Sean Starke and Brett Clouthier combined to set up captain Scott Basiuk who fired an excellent wrist shot from the top of the left circle with only 95 seconds played. Phoenix had chances to extend their lead as the Stingrays tried to force an equaliser. Left wing shots from Jake Riddle and Joe Tallari saw both netminders make big saves, before a concerted attack from the home side saw them spurn two or three good chances. Excellent interplay between Tony Hand and Joe Tallari gave Brian Passmore a clear shooting opportunity, but Kudrna in the home goal again made the smart stop. Hull killed the only penalty of the period, the first of the seven Hooking infringements.

Scott Fankhouser was called into early second period action to deny Glowa and Rublivsky before Phoenix went shorthanded, Basiuk penalised for Tripping. Phoenix were unlucky not to add to their lead as Simon Mangos and Sean Starke were denied and Rublivsky missed a glorious chance to tie the score as the penalty expired. Both side then killed minors on Clouthier (Hooking) and Phillips (Tripping) respectively and Kudrna earned his wages on a double save from Tallari in the slot and Passmore on the doorstep. Brett Clouthier saw a shot hit the post as he was hooked by Virtanen, but the Stingrays defended well to get the Finn back into the action. Phoenix finally increased their lead as Passmore released Hand down the right flank and his inch perfect centre was consummately despatched by Joe Tallari in the 35th minute. Hull killed yet another Hooking penalty, this time on Rublivsky to see out the second session trailing two nil.

With Jeff MacMillan penalised for Hooking just twelve seconds into the third period, Phoenix struck a superb shorthanded third marker as Hand broke out of defence and his mazy skate led to him feeding Joe Tallari for another precise finish from the left flank at 41:06. Clouthier was next to visit the penalty box on a Hooking infringement and the Hull powerplay finally forced the puck past Scott Fankhouser, Glowa netting at 44:15. The goal boosted the home side and Fankhouser was called upon to make a superb sprawling save to deny Rankin when put clean through. Stingrays set up a tense finish as they made it a one goal game in the 52nd minute, Dave Phillips firing home through traffic from the left circle. Phoenix killed a final Hooking minor called on Scott Basiuk and after Hull used their timeout to decide when to pull their goalie, Phoenix saw an empty-netter from Tallari ruled out for offside. Luke Stauffacher also got the puck into the unguarded home goal, but a split second after the final hooter had sounded to register the Phoenix victory.

Phoenix sniper Joe Tallari commented, "that was a tight finish and a valuable two points for us. Credit Hull, they fought back well and pushed us hard after going three goals down. This win keeps us in the hunt for sixth place and will help boost our confidence down the stretch."

A Phoenix spokesperson added, "Every game now is huge as we head towards the playoffs and teams really start jockeying for the playoff places. We've got a big game on Sunday at home against Belfast before going to Coventry on Wednesday night."