Phoenix mauled by the Tigers

Sunday, 2nd February 2014

Manchester Phoenix 3 - Telford Tigers 6

Phoenix Scorers: Robert Schnabel, Tony Hand and Michal Psurny.

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix fell to their first regulation defeat at home this season, beaten by a resurgent Tigers side. Phoenix started brightly but it was the Tigers who took the lead on 2 minutes. A sweeping move down the right wing saw Scott McKenzie rifle a shot past Stephen Fone in the Phoenix net. Assists went to Joe Miller and Michal Pavlu. Phoenix pressed for the equaliser and it came on 11.37 with a Michal Psurny goal, assisted by Tony Hand. The home side lost Frankie Bakrlik to a 10 minute abuse of official call after the big forward felt aggrieved he did not get a penalty after being face washed by Declan Ryan in the Tigers net. Unfortunately he continued to show his anger at the decision and was given the 10 minutes. There was no further scoring in the period and the teams went in level at 1-1.

Phoenix soon found themselves in penalty trouble and paid the price, losing two goals in 7 minutes. Rick Plant scored on 22.26, assisted by Adam Walker and Mika Kiviranta. 7 minutes later It was 3-1 when Joe Miller scored, again on the powerplay, assisted by Dan Davies and Scott McKenzie. Phoenix pulled a goal back with a power play goal of their own as Robert Schnabel rifled the puck home from a Tony Hand pass. Michal Psurny was awarded the second assist. Two further Tigers goals through Richard Plant and Adam Walker gave the visitors a comfortable 5-2 lead at the end of the second period.

Phoenix had their best spell of the game at the start of the third period and took the game to the Tigers. Declan Ryan stood strong in the visitor’s net and kept the home side at bay. Phoenix did pull one back on 46.34 with a Tony Hand powerplay goal, assisted by Michal Psurny and Robert Schnabel. Tigers finished the scoring with a shorthanded goal on 51.32. Stephen Fone went behind the net to collect the puck, but it took a wicked deflection off the boards and back into play where Tigers’ man of the match, Miika Kivaranta, was on hand to sweep the puck into the empty net. That ended the scoring for the night and the Tigers took the points back to Shropshire with a 6-3 win.

Phoenix defender Joe Graham had this to say after the match:

“We fell a bit short tonight after creating some very good chances. Ryan in the Telford goal had a good game and Telford chased and harried us all night. We will now re-group and get focussed for the cup semi final and next weekend’s games.”