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Team effort sees Phoenix win their fifth straight game

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Edinburgh Capitals 4 - 7 Manchester Phoenix

Phoenix travelled north on Sunday in search of a four-point weekend on the road and in a game that saw no less than eleven goals scored, doubles from Bruce Mulherin, Luke Fulghum and Nathan Ward made it mission accomplished.

Boosted by their excellent performance on Saturday, Phoenix were quick to open the scoring in Murrayfield as Bruce Mulherin capitalised on a seventh minute powerplay assisted by Nathan Ward and Josh Garbutt. The Capitals, keen to make amends for last Thursday’s Challenge Cup mauling in Altrincham, were equally quick to respond as Mark Hurtibise equalised just ninety seconds later. Phoenix soon ailenced the home crowd again a telling pass from Dwight Parrish released Luke Fulghum and the speedy winger made no mistake just past the midway point of the period. Phoenix were then made to work hard defensively as Kyle Bruce and Luke Boothroyd both took penalties in quick succession.

The second period saw Phoenix extend their lead just before the half-hour mark with both teams having man in the penalty box. The increased space on the big Murrayfield ice pad suited the Phoenix cause as Alex Dunn and Kenton Smith assisted on the finish by Nathan Ward. A High-Sticking penalty on Capitals Martin Cingel saw Phoenix add their fourth marker, Bruce Mulherin with his second of the game in the 36th minute with Luke Fulghum doing likewise a minute later as the visitors went nap. Edinburgh pulled another goal back in the 38th minute, Mark Garside the scorer, but the Phoenix quickly restored their four-goal advantage as Nathan Ward too notched his second of the game as the crowd were treated to four goals in a little over two and half minutes.

The game continued to provide the Sunday night crowd with goals in the final session as Brett Clouthier tallied their seventh in the 43rd minute assisted by Lucas Burnett and Ross Dalgleish pulled another back for the home side three minutes later. Edinburgh gave the home support hope as Taylor Christie added their fourth goal in the 50th minute but despite a couple of late penalties, Phoenix good work in the second period saw them through to the final hooter to successfully complete their weekend’s work.

A Phoenix spokesperson remarked, “This was a tough weekend for the team with two lots of travelling, but the guys responded excellently with another solid team effort. Stephen Murphy was again in good form and the spread of goals over the weekend shows we’ve got good depth in that department. Any time you pick points up on the road you’re grateful and to pick four up this weekend is very pleasing. Today has been a long day and with Edinburgh having not played on Saturday, we have to be pleased to get the points again tonight as they make it a tough place to come to.”

Next weekend sees Phoenix travel to the Coventry Skydome on Saturday for the first game of the season against the Blaze, before hosting the Hull Stingrays in Altrincham on Sunday with a 5.30pm face-off.