Phoenix leave it late to sting the Bees

Monday, 2nd January 2012

Manchester Phoenix 3 - Bracknell Bees 2 (in overtime)

Phoenix scorers: Slava Koulikov (2) and Jaroslav Spelda

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix took on the Bracknell Bees in their first game of 2012 at the Dome on Monday night.

Both teams were hit by injuries, Phoenix missing Tony Hand and Tom Duggan and the Bees were missing Tom Annetts, Peter Jasik and Carl Graham.

Phoenix set their stall out early with a bombardment of the Bees goal but Carl Ambler was seeing the puck very early and made save after save to keep the home side from scoring. The period ended 0-0 despite Phoenix having 17 shots on goal.

The home crowd were stunned into silence after only 66 seconds of the second period when Scott Spearing won a loose puck in the corner and fired the puck on goal. No one was more surprised than Stephen Fone when the puck found its way past him for the first goal of the evening. Phoenix got back on the game plan and continued to pepper the Bees’ goal with shots. Eventually they got their just reward on 32.38 when a ground shot from Juraj Faith was tipped passed Ambler by Slava Koulikov for the equaliser. 4 minutes later the home favourites took the lead with a typical Jaroslav Spelda rocket that flew past the Bees goalie. The second period ended with Phoenix well on top but only one goal separated the sides.

The third went the same way as the first two periods with Phoenix dominant but their profligacy in front of goal was to be punished with 5 minutes left as Lukas Smital fired high over the screened Stephen Fone for an unlikely equaliser. Bees took a very late delay of game penalty and Phoenix kept the puck in the Bees zone for almost half of the two minute powerplay but were unable to beat the excellent Ambler. 2-2 at the end of three periods and the game went to overtime with Phoenix having a man advantage for the first 60 seconds.

The home side did not need the full 60 seconds as the winning goal came with just 36 seconds gone in overtime. Slava Koulikov scored after some neat play by the Phoenix power play unit.

A good win for Phoenix giving them a 4 game winning streak as they go into a difficult away weekend in Slough and Telford.

Man of the match for Phoenix was James Archer and Carl Ambler took the honours for Bracknell after turning away 50 shots out of 53.