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Bison edge nine-goal thriller at the Dome

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Manchester Phoenix 4 - Basingstoke Bison 5

Phoenix scorers: Johan Burlin, Ben Wood, Frantisek Bakrlik and Robin Kovar.

J Davidson sponsored “Men of Iron” Manchester Phoenix took on the current Play off champions, Basingstoke Bison, in the English Premier League Play off Quarter Finals at the Dome on Saturday night. It was always going to be an emotional night for the large crowd as they turned up in numbers to see player-coach Tony Hand’s last home appearance before retiring as a player. 

The home side started at a furious pace and immediately tested Dean Skinns in the Bison goal. The first goal of the evening went to Phoenix with a power play goal on 4.19. With Michael Wales in the box on a tripping call, Phoenix worked the puck down the left hand side and Tony Hand found Johan Burlin just inside the blue line and his crisp shot found its way past the screened netminder for 1-0. The second assist went to Robin Kovar. Bison hit back quickly and ex Phoenix forward Ciaran Long was in the right place at the right time to beat Stephen Fone on 5.38 for the equalising goal.

Phoenix were looking the better side, pinning Bison in their own defensive zone during the early part of the match, and it was no surprise when they took the lead for the second time on 8.40. Adam Walker found Ben Wood down the right wing and the popular D man found the net from an impossible angle, beating Dean Skinns at the left hand post. Assists went to Adam Walker and Johan Burlin. Two minutes later, the large crowd went ballistic as their favourites made it 3-1 with another power play goal. Whilst Bison captain Nicky Chinn was sitting out a 2 plus 10 minute penalty for a bad check from behind on Jacob Corson Heron, Frank “The Tank” Bakrlik scored from a Tony Hand pass. The goal was timed at 10.39 and Phoenix were rampant. Bison were making a game of it however and Stephen Fone had to be on top form to keep his team’s two goal lead as the period ended.

Bison came out strong in the second period and put the Phoenix defence under tremendous pressure then stunned the crowd with three goals in less than two minutes. Player coach Doug Sheppard hit the first on 30.50 and a shell shocked Phoenix side conceded two more in quick succession from Joe Rand. Coach Hand called a time out immediately after the third goal to steady the ship and regain their focus. It paid off 3 minutes later when Robin Kovar scored with a short handed goal as Frankie Bakrlik sat out a high sticks penalty. Tony Hand was credited with an assist on the goal timed at 35.47. 40 minutes of fast and furious play off hockey ended with the sides tied a 4-4.

With the first two periods played at an amazing pace by both teams, the third was always going to be a quieter affair as Bison looked to consolidate their second period efforts. The visitors were running 4 lines and slowly sapped energy from the home side who were striving to take some sort of lead to Basingstoke for the second leg. It was the visitors who took that lead with the only goal of the period on 49.39 as Ciaran Long scored his second and Bison’s fifth of the evening. Phoenix worked hard for the remaining 10 minutes but could not find a way past Skinns and the game ended 5-4 to Basingstoke.

The evening ended with a presentation to Tony Hand of a special shirt to mark his retirement and the announcement that the number 9 will be retired in his honour.

Coach Hand said on Phoenix TV after the game: “Bison are a good strong team and we battled hard out there tonight. It was disappointing to lose the three goals in the second period but it is only half way in the tie. I was pleased with our overall play tonight and we will talk and focus on turning it around on Sunday in Basingstoke. We will do our best to get to Coventry for by far the best fans in the league. I would like to pay tribute to our kit man Paul Turner who is retiring after being with the club since day one. A great guy and he will be sorely missed by the organisation.”