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Can Phoenix make it a triple lightning strike

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Two in-form teams meet on Sunday night at the Ice Dome when J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix meet the Milton Keynes Lightning in an English Premier League match. Lightning have won their last four games, all since they lost two in a row to Phoenix. The Manchester club themselves have won their last six games, including the two against Lightning. Both teams will have had to play at their best the night before this big game to maintain their run. Phoenix have a tough game at another form team, Basingstoke Bison and Lightning have a home match against league leaders Guildford Flames.

Games between Phoenix and Lightning have been the highlights of the last two seasons for the home fans and with the Buckinghamshire side sure to bring large numbers of loud and proud fans to add to the atmosphere.

Last time out at the Dome, the home favourites won 4-2 in a fantastic hockey game that saw Lightning fight back from two goals down, only to succumb at the end.

Our visitors are quietly going about their business and recent results have seen them close the gap at the top to just one point. Grant McPherson has returned from injury but his nemesis, our very own Tony Hand, will not be around to give him some more boxing lessons as he is still out with injury. Fans need only look to Blaz Emersic, Juraj Gracic and defender turned forward Leigh Jamieson for the reason Lightning are sitting near the top. The three marksmen have notched up 128 points between them already this season with super skipper Adam Carr contributing with 24 points of his own.

The Phoenix are doing their own fair share of scoring with 119 points shared between Martin Cingel, Juraj Faith and Slava Koulikov.

Coach Hand said of the upcoming weekend games: “It will be another tough weekend. Basingstoke are always tough opponents but we have played well against them this season and the lads are in form at the moment. Milton Keynes are grinding out results just as we did last season and are deservedly up there. We are having a good run and I see no reason why it should not continue. We are getting ourselves into contention and there is still a long way to go.”

New Year is over, the run in to the play offs has begun and Phoenix are playing their best hockey of the season. Get down to the Dome on Sunday and watch Manchester’s fastest and most exciting sports team, Manchester Phoenix, continue their rise up the table. It is going to be one NOT to miss.