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Manchester Phoenix 7 - Bracknell Bees 4

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Manchester Phoenix 7 Bracknell Bees 4

Manchester Phoenix consolidated their position at the top of the English Premier League after another four-point weekend, but the celebrations were dampened by injury concerns for two key players.

After a comfortable 7-1 win away at the Hive on Saturday night, Bracknell Bees travelled to the Ice Dome for the return leg of the weekend’s double header.

It certainly looked as though Phoenix would carry on as they left off, taking a two-goal lead within two minutes of the start.

Marcus Kristoffersson unleashed his terrifying slap shot after just 1.04, blasting it past Adam Marashi and into the Bees’ net. This was followed forty four seconds later as Greg Wood latched on to a pass from Stephen Wallace to slot home.

Bracknell struck back after 5.44, when Nicky Watt pulled a goal back on a Bees powerplay, but Phoenix MOM Greg Wood restored the gap on eleven minutes with a superb piece of solo work, bringing the puck round the back of the Bees net for a wraparound attempt, and following up the rebound to squeeze in a third for Phoenix.

Phoenix took charge in the second period. Marcus Kristoffersson again let fly on 25 minutes for his second and Phoenix’s fourth, while Ben Morgan got in on the shooting action two minutes later, with a rocket on the powerplay. Greg Wood won the race for a hat trick on the half way mark, snapping a pass from Wallace into the goal, and as the second period drew to a close, it was Marcus Kristoffersson who slotted in the seventh goal.

Defenceman Ben Wood did not emerge for the third period, after he appeared to injure his shoulder following a collision with the boards at the end of the second period.

The game changed at the start of the third period, when a Bees attack led to a vicious slap shot from Jaroslav Cesky striking Phoenix netminder Steve Fone full in the face mask. Fone appeared to collapse and was treated on the ice for some minutes before skating off for further treatment while a Zamboni cleared a considerable amount of blood off the ice.

Phoenix under-18 netminder Robert Browne took over between the pipes, but was almost immediately beaten by a howitzer from Sam Waller on 42.20. Bracknell pulled another goal back on 46.44 from Ashley Calvert, and there followed a series of penalties, which interrupted the momentum of both teams and gave the game a chaotic finale.

Ladislav Harabin and Bees’ Craig Tribe dropped the gloves on 52 minutes, each receiving 2+2 for roughing. There was more puzzlement on 54 minutes, as both sides were assessed bench minor penalties for too many men on the ice. Phoenix incurred another bench minor on 56 minutes for an icing infraction, and Michal Pinc pounced for Bracknell on the powerplay to score the Bees’ fourth.

But it was Phoenix who ended the game on the powerplay, with Alex Barker serving 2 minutes for high-sticks, and they wound the game down for a convincing win.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand said: “We were heading for another comfortable win tonight but then everything changed either side of the second interval. We’ll assess Steve Fone and Ben Wood properly this week and ascertain how serious the injuries are, but I know they will both want to be back on the ice as soon as they physically can.

“Performance-wise I am still very pleased. We are showing intelligence, understanding and strength in our play, and this weekend showed perfectly how that can be used to full effect.”