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Phoenix fight back but fail to snatch the points in Peterborough

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Peterborough Phantoms 5 Manchester Phoenix 4

Phoenix Scorers: Frankie Bakrlik x 3, Michal Psurny

As always in Peterborough, the physical aspect of hockey comes to the fore and this game was no exception as Alan Lack (Phantoms) and Bobby Chamberlain had words and dropped the gloves after just 2 minutes. The home side opened the scoring on 7.22 with an Edgar Bebris goal assisted by Milan Baranyk and 5 minutes later, roles were reversed as Bebris set up Baranyk to make it 2-0. It was 3-0 on 15.57 as Darius Pliskauskas forced a turnover and Marc Levers rifled his pass into the Phoenix net. The period ended with the home side leading 3-0.

Phoenix came out in the second determined to make amends and scored 3 goals in a 4 minute spell. Frankie Bakrlik did the damage with two goals on 23.23 and 26.17.

Phoenix drew level with a bizarre goal on 27.02. Michal Psurny was called for tripping on a delayed penalty and Phantoms’ netminder left the net, heading for the bench to allow the extra out skater. Marc Levers obviously did not see Auzins leave his crease and Lever’s pass back to his defence found its way into the empty net. With “own goals” always credited to the last attacking player to touch the puck, Michal Psurny was  awarded the goal, and the two minute penalty for his original tripping call. This lifted Phoenix spirits and they ended the period on top with the score at 3-3. 

Coach Koulikov’s words with his team at the second break obviously worked and Phantoms found themselves 5-3 up with 8 minutes gone in the third. A Tom Norton powerplay goal and a strike by Phantoms’ captain James Ferrara looked like keeping the points in Peterborough. Phoenix hit a 4th with Frankie Bakrlik scoring his hat trick goal on 57.54 but were unable to get the all important equaliser and the game ended with a 5-4 victory to Peterborough.