Phoenix snuff out the Flames

Sunday, 22nd February 2015

Manchester Phoenix 5 Guildford Flames 2

Phoenix scorers: Bobby Chamberlain x 2, Frantisek Bakrlik, Joe Graham and Robin Kovar.

J Davidson sponsored “Men of Iron” Manchester Phoenix bounced back from defeat on Saturday to convincingly beat 2nd placed Guildford Flames. The home faithful, in good voice all night, almost took the roof off when Frankie Bakrlik broke free to score the first goal on 7.33. Assists went to Shaun Thompson and Ben Wood. Phoenix were dominating play and only fine netminding by James Hadfield kept Guildford in the game. They did have chances of their own but found Stephen Fone in good form. The period ended with a shock for Phoenix, after looking by far the better team, when the Flames equalised with just over a minute to go. Veteran David Longstaff was first to react to stuff the puck into the net off Stephen Fone’s skate. Assists went to Andrew Hemmings and Ben Campbell. End of the first with the scores level at 1-1.

Phoenix started the second period as they had finished the first and Hadfield had to be on top form to keep the scores level. He was beaten on 33.01 when the Phoenix third line played some lovely hockey that ended with Bobby Chamberlain scoring, assisted by Adam Walker and Joe Graham. The home side were playing their brand of fast attacking hockey, creating chance after chance but were unable to add to the score and the period ended with Phoenix holding on to a slender 2-1 lead.

Guildford pulled a goal back early in the third period with a powerplay goal by Danny Myers assisted by Roman Tvrdon. It took Phoenix just 50 seconds to regain the lead with Bobby Chamberlain scoring from an impossible angle. The goal was timed at 52.01 and assists went to Robin Kovar and Shaun Thompson. Phoenix hit the twine two minutes later when Joe Graham finished off a superb move involving Bobby Chamberlain and Shaun Thompson. Guildford were visibly tiring by this time and conceded a fifth goal, scored on the powerplay, by Robin Kovar, assisted by Tony Hand and Adam Walker. Phoenix totally dominated the period, outshooting the Flames by 22-8, thoroughly deserving the 5-2 result.

Phoenix forward Robin Kovar said after the game: “We played very well as a team tonight and deserved the win. Every player on the team did their jobs and we scored good goals. Now we need to go on and win the cup.”