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Phoenix and Bison serve up a thriller

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Manchester Phoenix 4 - Basingstoke Bison 3 (Penalty Shots)

Phoenix Scorers: Frantisek Bakrlik, Michal Psurny and Bobby Chamberlain. 

Winning penalty shot: Michal Psurny.

J Davidson sponsored “Men of Iron” Manchester Phoenix and Basingstoke Bison gave a large crowd a superb match at the Dome on Sunday night.

Bison tested netminder Stephen Fone early on as Phoenix found themselves on a penalty kill after just 1.56, having been penalised for too many men on the ice. After a successful penalty kill, Phoenix began to assert pressure of their own and took the lead with a typical Frankie Bakrlik goal. Robin Kovar worked the puck to Frankie on the left just inside the blue line and the Phoenix hit man sent a blistering shot past Dean Skinns before he could move. The goal was timed at 12.25 and Joe Graham was awarded the second assist. 

Phoenix looked like they were heading to the break on top when Joe Rand scored Bison’s equaliser with just 11 seconds left in the period. Kurt Reynolds fed Nicky Chinn who passed to Joe Rand and his quick shot beat Stephen Fone for 1-1.  

Phoenix came out fast and hard in the second period and Dean Skinns continued to show he is one of the best netminders in the league by keeping the Phoenix forwards at bay. The breakthrough came on 27.27 with Michal Psurny finding the net, assisted by Shaun Thompson and Robin Kovar. Bison equalised for the second time when Aaron Connolly found himself free on the left and swept the puck into the gaping net for 2-2 on 30.25. Assists went to Joe Rand and Nick Chinn. That ended the scoring in the second period with nothing between the teams.

The third period was nip and tuck as both teams sought the winner. Both Skinns and Fone were keeping the scores level until seven minutes from the end. Joe Graham sent Bobby Chamberlain away down the right and the young forward sent a delightful shot past the Basingstoke netminder for Phoenix’s third goal of the night. 

The lead lasted just 6 seconds as Bison scored almost right after the face off. Joe Greener was the scorer with an assist to Miroslav Vantroba. The period ended without further scoring and the teams got themselves ready for overtime and possibly penalties.

The overtime period was as open as the rest of the game and the teams managed 10 shots between them in the 5 minute extra time. The stalemate could not be broken and the Phoenix crowd were to see a penalty shoot out for the second home game in a row.

Bison forward Tomas Karpov took the first shot and his effort was padded away to Fone’s right side. Adam Walker and Ciaran Long both saw their efforts saved by the netminders. Michal Psurny was next up for Phoenix and he nearly sent the roof off the building with a neat penalty shot to give Phoenix the lead. Joe Greener had to score to keep Bison in the game but his shot was well saved by Stephen Fone to give the home side the victory.

Coach Hand said after the game: “Basingstoke are a good side and very well organised at the back. This was a good win for us, especially after our schedule over the last 8 days. It is good to have the injured players back and I am sure we will consolidate our league position as we get well into the critical stage of the season.”

Phoenix are next in action next Sunday night, 8th February when they take on Swindon Wildcats at the Dome with the usual face off at 17:30.