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Phoenix back to business after weekend off

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J Davidson Sponsored Manchester Phoenix get back to work this weekend after a rare couple of days off that saw them slip to second in the League.

Tony Hand’s team get straight back to business with two important games. Firstly, they make the trip to Peterborough on Saturday in a vital League and Cup match. A win for Phoenix will see them top the Cup table thus ensuring home advantage in the semi final and final should they reach it.

Peterborough changed their coach last week and ex Phoenix forward Slava Koulikov left troubled Slough Jets to take up the reins in Phantom land. At the time of writing this article he had not made any additions to the squad but rumours are rife that he will take a couple of Jets’ players with him.

The teams have only met once so far this season, at the Ice Dome, where Phoenix ran rampant with an 11-0 win. However, Phoenix never find Peterborough an easy place to pick up points and they will go there knowing they will have to battle for everything.

Phantoms have found problems in defence this season but have a more than capable netminder in Tom Murdy and free-scoring defenceman Marcel Petran on the blue line. Up front, the very experienced Mark Levers, who joined this season, and imports Erik Piatak and Jaroslav Cesky provide the goals. They are a gritty, physical team and come to play every week with Nicky Watt, Greg Pick and Will Weldon providing the agitating role the home fans love. Slava himself will be a good addition to the forward lines, and they should start to get things right and move up the table.

Sunday at the Dome will see game 4 in the series between the Champions and league leaders Guildford Flames and Phoenix. The three games so far this season have produced some scintillating hockey between arguably the two best teams in the league this season. Flames lead the series 2-1 with 3-2 and 4-2 home victories with the Phoenix victory coming as a result of an excellent 7-4 win at the Dome.

Guildford players need no introduction to the Phoenix fans with no fewer than five former Manchester players in their ranks. They have been struggling with injuries this season but still find themselves top of the table going in to the game. Curtis Huppe has a long term back injury and Marcus Kristoffersson is believed to have a thigh strain with neither expected to play this weekend. Despite the lack of personnel, Flames go into the game on the back of a good 4 point weekend on the road and will come to the Dome feeling confident.

Phoenix, refreshed from their few days off, will prepare for the games as they always do, looking for the points to keep their challenge at the top going.

Coach Hand said:

“It was good to have some time off to re-charge the batteries but we know the task ahead of us and are well prepared for two tough games. Peterborough are a hard team to beat at home and we will have to be at our best. It is important to gain home advantage in the cup knockout stages and we will be working hard for the win. There’s nothing else that can be said to stress the importance of Sunday’s clash with Guildford. These are games we all want to play in and games we look to for points. There will be a big festive crowd at the game; the fans play a huge part in our home record and I know they will get behind us as they always do.”