Phoenix stunned by MK in overtime

Sunday, 1st November 2015

Manchester Phoenix iced a full strength side as they welcomed the Milton Keynes Lightning to Deeside for the second time this season.

The first period was a quiet affair, however both netminders were called upon to make smart saves as the period reached its latter stages, but neither team was able to break the deadlock.

The game burst into life late in the second period with three goals and two penalty shots. It was Phoenix who grabbed the crucial opening goal at 32:32 when Ben Wood blasted home a rebound following a Jacob Corson-Heron shot. MK responded quickly as Lewis Hook latched onto a pass up the middle to coolly equalise at 33:51. But Phoenix hit back immediately as Robin Kovar picked up a rebound from a James Archer effort to score at 34:07.

Phoenix were then awarded a penalty shot as an MK player closed his hand on the puck in the crease, but Phoenix captain Luke Boothroyd was denied by the MK netminder. The referee then levelled up matters as MK were awarded a penalty shot of their own but former Phoenix player Bobby Chamberlain was denied by Fone as the period ended 2-1 to Phoenix.

The third period saw few chances until Phoenix were handed a Powerplay opportunity with Stanislav Gron blasting home a pass from Robin Kovar at 54:05 to make it 3-1. But MK replied immediately through Blaz Emersic at 55:15 and after pulling their netminder for an extra skater, a fortunate deflection gave Marko Luomala an equaliser at 58:30.

The game went to overtime and despite chances at both ends, Leigh Jamieson grabbed the deciding goal at 54:08 to claim a 4-3 win for the visitors.

Phoenix Coach Tony Hand commented: “It’s a hard loss to take as we dominated large parts of the game and we were firmly in control going into the final stages. We face an important trip to Hull next weekend where we’ll look to be more clinical in front of goal.”

Phoenix are at home next Sunday, 8th November, against the Telford Tigers with a 6:30pm face-off in Deeside.