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Phoenix cup hoodoo continues

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Manchester Phoenix 4 - Milton Keynes Lightning 5 (in overtime, aggregate 9-10.)

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix’s quest to win the EPL Cup once again fell at the semi final stage with an overtime loss to Milton Keynes Lightning.

With both teams icing full strength teams the semi final second leg promised to be as exciting as the 5-5 draw in Coventry last week.

Phoenix started strongly but fell behind on 5.55 when Janne Jokila swept home a rebound after Stephen Fone made a huge save from Lukas Zatopek. Six minutes later, the home side deservedly equalised with James Neil’s first goal of the season. Having just come out of the penalty box after sitting out a 2 minute icing infraction call, he jumped into the play and was in the right spot to put the puck past Stephen Wall for 1-1. Assists went to Tony Hand and Michal Psurny. The home crowd were up on their feet again on 12.36 when superb hands by Frantisek Bakrlik took the puck past Wall and the big forward finished in style to make it 2-1. Assists this time went to Tony Hand and James Archer. Player coach Tony Hand voiced his opinion too strongly on 16.32 after a delay of game call as Ben Wood fired the puck over the plexi. Many in the crowd were convinced he was well into the neutral zone when he played the puck. There was no further scoring in the period and Phoenix took their cup of tea with a 2-1 lead.

Phoenix were seeing most of the play at the start of the second period but MK always looked dangerous on the break and. true to form, they equalised on 24.52 with a shorthanded goal by top sniper Stanislav Lascek. The ever increasing Lightning pressure paid off on 30.59 with their captain. Adam Carr; making it 3-2, assisted by Lascek and Lewis Christie. The topsy-turvy game took another twist as Phoenix drew level with a Luke Boothroyd power play goal. The Phoenix skipper was in the right place at the back post to sweep the puck into the gaping net on 35.17. Lightning netminder Stephen Wall picked up a 10 minute misconduct shortly after as he questioned the legality of the goal. The incident didn’t seem to bother Lightning and 12 seconds later it was 4-3 as Adam Carr scored again, this time assisted by Leigh Jamieson and Stanislav Lascek. Shortly afterwards Lightning’s Lewis Christie was given a match penalty for high sticks that injured Michal Psurny. The call was reduced to a game misconduct when Psurny returned to the game. Phoenix were dealt a severe blow a minute before the end of the period when Robin Kovar was given his marching orders for abuse of official. The second stanza ended with the visitors holding on to a narrow 4-3 lead.

The home fans were up on their feet on 44.46 when defender James Neil scored his second of the game to bring the sides level again at 4-4. As with his first goal, assists went to Tony Hand and Michal Psurny. Inevitably the game slowed up as both teams visibly tired in the third period. Phoenix had a couple of power play chances to win the game but no further goals ensued and the teams went into overtime to decide who would meet Basingstoke in the cup final.

The extra 5 minutes of overtime was just 63 seconds old when Lightning scored the winning goal. A turn over in the Phoenix defensive zone presented Stanislav Lascek with a golden chance and he made no mistake dispatching the puck past Stephen Fone to the delight of the noisy travelling band of away fans.

Phoenix man of the match James Archer said after the game:

“Obviously we are very disappointed not to make the final but, as always, we gave it our all. MK are a good side and unfortunately we just did not get the breaks when it mattered. Now we will go back and regroup and focus on the league, which is still in our own hands.”

Phoenix take on Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday 15th February at the Dome; face off at 1900hrs.