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Phoenix edge thriller in Peterborough

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Peterborough Phantoms 2 - Manchester Phoenix 3 (Penalty Shots)

Phoenix scorers: Michal Psurny and Derek Campbell. Penalty shots:  Michal Psurny and Bari McKenzie.

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix made it double header weekend delight with a thrilling penalty shot win over the Phantoms.

Phoenix were down to the bare bones with only 12 outskaters fit to face their opponents; Robert Schnabel and Ben Wood out injured and James Archer recovering after the birth of his daughter.

Phantoms came out fast and took the game to Phoenix in the early stages and took the lead on 1.12 with a James Ferrara goal, assisted by Ondrez Lauko and Tom Carlon. The game ebbed to and fro with both sides making good chances and Phoenix eventually took one of theirs on 16.34. James Neil found Tony Hand who sent Michal Psurny down the left wing and he ripped a wrister past Damian King before he could move. The period ended 1-1 with both sets of fans enjoying an entertaining game.

The second saw much of the same with both sides again having multiple chances with both netminders standing tall and keeping their nets intact. The period was littered with petty minor penalties and a slight concern for Phantoms when Luke Ferrara took a high stick to the face. He returned after brief treatment and Luke Boothroyd sat out a 2 minute minor. Derek Campbell broke the period deadlock with an fine goal on 36.39. Ondrej Pozivil sent Campbell down the left wing with Michal Psurny for company. However Derek did not need his linemate as he beat King on the left to put Phoenix in front 2-1.

Phoenix hit the pipes early in the third and with 10 minutes left, the teams traded penalties and we had 2 minutes of four on four hockey. The game was heading for a narrow Phoenix victory when Phantoms scored with just 8 seconds left on the clock. Luke Ferrara managed to get a stick on a loose puck which seemed to hit about 4 players’ skates before deflecting past the despairing Stephen Fone.  Heartbreaking for the short benched Phoenix who had worked so hard all game.

Phantoms had the best chances in overtime but with no further scoring, the game went to penalty shots.

Hot shot Ondrez Lauko took the first penalty for Peterborough and missed on the right hand side. Michal Psurny took his shot and lifted the puck past Damian King to give Phoenix the advantage. Tom Carlon took Phantom’s second shot and thought he had scored when the red light went on only for the referee to wash it out. The puck never went into the net but hit the crossbar and came out. This left Bari McKenzie to score with a neat penalty to give Phoenix there second road win of the weekend.

Overall, a very entertaining end to end game with both sides deserving something out of the game. Phoenix will travel home a happy, if tired, bunch in the knowledge that they have kept pace at the top of the table.