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Milton Keynes Lightning 1 - Manchester Phoenix 4

Phoenix Scorers: Johan Burlin x 2, Robin Kovar and Michal Psurny

J Davidson sponsored “Men of Iron” pulled off a fantastic result in Coventry on Saturday night with a 4-1 victory against Milton Keynes Lightning.

Phoenix travelled to the temporary home of the Lightning minus two forwards as Frankie Bakrlik had not recovered from his knee injury of the previous week and Jacob Corson-Heron broke his collar bone in training on Friday.

The first period was nip and tuck with very little between the sides and Phoenix had to get their penalty kill unit working early on as Johan Burlin sat out a roughing call after 76 seconds. The PK unit took to their task and limited Lightning to only a couple of shots. By the mid-point of the period Lightning were looking strong and had chances to take the lead. After 11 minutes Stephen Fone pulled off a good save from Kostouorek to keep the scores level. Phoenix finished the period the stronger, Robin Kovar hitting the side netting with a good chance. End of the first and 0-0.

Both teams had chances in the early stages of the second period with Emersic and Farn coming close for Lightning and Kovar forcing a good save from Stephen Wall. Much to the delight of their travelling support Phoenix broke the deadlock when Joe Graham set up Robin Kovar on 32.39 and the big Czech forward blasted the puck through Wall’s five hole. The visitors doubled their lead 3 minutes later with a power play hammer by Johan Burlin from the blue line. Great period from Phoenix and 2-0 at the second break.

Phoenix took the game to Lightning early in the third period with two power play chances. Lightning came close with two short handed breaks by lascek and Horava in the 50^th minute but Phoenix wrapped up the points on 54.05 when Michal Psurny rocketed the puck past Wall from the right wing. MK broke the shut out a minute later with a power play goal from Jordan Cownie. The home side pulled Wall for the extra out skater with 39 seconds left but Phoenix hit the empty net almost immediately as Johan Burlin hit his second of the night. Final score 4-1 and a great win on the road for Phoenix.

Coach Hand said after the game: " We played well tonight and I was very pleased with all of the lads. We were short of forwards but everybody stepped up to the plate and I thought we deserved the win."

Phoenix are in action on Sunday with a home game against the Peterborough Phantoms at the usual face off time of 17:30.