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Manchester Phoenix 4 - Sheffield Steeldogs 3 (6-8 on aggregate)

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Manchester Phoenix 4 - Sheffield Steeldogs 3 (Phoenix lose 6-8 on  aggregate.)

Phoenix scorers: Michal Psurny x 2, Andy McKinney and Frantisek Bakrlik.

Sheffield Steeldogs retained the Rose Bowl after another pulsating, feisty game between these bitter rivals.

Steeldogs were still without the suspended Lewis Bell and Ben Morgan, Phoenix were at full strength with Tony Hand icing.

The first penalty of the night went to Steeldogs when Greg Chambers went on a hooking call. Dalibor Sedlar in the Dogs’ made a good glove save from Robert Schnabel and the penalty was killed. Phoenix took full advantage of their next powerplay when Greg Wood was sent to the box on a cross-checking call at 4.16. With just 17 seconds of the powerplay gone, Frankie Bakrlik ripped a low shot from the blue line past Sedlar. Robin Kovar and James Archer were awarded assists. The game exploded 16 seconds later as James Archer and Greg Wood had words. Archer was none too pleased and followed Wood, only to be caught by Lee Haywood. Robin Kovar stepped in to assist his team mate and both he and Haywood ended up on the ice. Kovar landed a few punches but unfortunately did not stop when the officials came in to break things up and he was ejected for resisting an official.
Archer and Wood also received 2 minutes each for roughing. Lloyd Gibson was then given a 2 plus 10 for a check to the head of Jacob Heron.

There was some hockey being played, though, and Steve Fone made a huge save when Hirst broke free to get the shot away. Phoenix settled down after the penalties subsided and took the game to the Dogs. Sedlar, in net, had to be sharp on a couple of occasions to prevent Phoenix doubling their lead. Fone also had to be sharp to deny Lubomir Korhon who had a shot, again on a break, but he was beaten on 12.03. Bakrlik pulled Korhon back as he took a shot on goal and referee Ashton awarded a penalty shot. Greg Chambers stepped up and scored with a neat top shelfer. Sheffield almost took the lead when a Fone clearance took a nasty deflection and nearly ended up in the net. The period actually started to flow nicely at this point and Phoenix took the lead as Sedlar spilled a Liam Chong shot and Andy McKinney was on hand to tap the puck in at the back post. Phoenix were unable to hold on to the lead as top sniper Korhon stole the puck and sent it through Fone’s five hole for the equaliser with just 57 seconds left on the clock. End of an interesting period 2-2 and the Steeldogs holding their 3 goal advantage.

In a relatively quiet first half of the second period, Phoenix pressed hard for goals but the Steeldogs’ defence were getting bodies on the puck from everywhere. Both teams were having chances and Phoenix took one of theirs on 39.41. The home side broke out as Tony Hand broke down the left and found Michal Psurny with a pinpoint pass. The Czech forward blasted the puck top shelf past Sedlar. The period ebbed and flowed with both teams having chances but there was no further scoring and they went to the final 20 minutes with Phoenix leading 3-2 on the night but down by 2 goals on aggregate.

Phoenix pressed hard in the third but a resolute Steeldogs defence stood firm with Sedlar making some impressive saves to keep the home side from increasing their lead. Sheffield equalised for the third time on the night with just under 10 minutes of the game left when Greg Chambers scored with a beautiful top shelf effort. The home side visibly tired after this but still managed to take the lead again with a power play goal on 56.40. Steven Duncombe sat out a slashing call on 55.48 and less than a minute later it was 4-3. Great work from Bakrlik found Psurny who lifted the puck over Sedlar for the final goal of the evening.

Phoenix man of the match Frantisek Bakrlik had this to say after the game:

“We knew it was going to be a tough weekend but there were a lot of positives to take into training this week and we will be ready for Saturday. It was an intense game but that is what we are here for. Looking forward to the league start at Telford.”

Phoenix are away to Telford Tigers on Saturday and the Steeldogs return to the Dome for a league encounter on Sunday with a 17.30 face off.