Steeldogs edge Phoenix in War of the Roses first leg

Saturday, 12th December 2015

Manchester Phoenix welcomed the Sheffield Steeldogs to Deeside on Saturday evening for the first leg of the annual War of the Roses encounter.

Phoenix pressed early on and were rewarded as Robin Kovar was brought down when he was clean through on goal and a penalty shot was awarded at 4:43. Kovar duly converted to put Phoenix in the lead, which was almost extended when Jacob Corson-Heron hit the post. Sheffield thought they’d equalised in the dying seconds of the period but Bosos hit both posts with the puck not crossing the line.

Sheffield did equalise in the second period as Andy Hirst scored on the Powerplay at 27:30, but Phoenix quickly grabbed two Powerplay goals of their own as Kovar raced past two players to score at 27:54 for his second of the night followed by a James Archer effort at 29:06 after being set up by Michal Satek.

The game was beginning to get feisty as Stan Lascek took a needless interference penalty, before a couple of roughing penalties were awarded for a scuffle in the crease. Phoenix extended their lead to 4-1 when Archer scored his second on the rebound following a Nico Aaltonen effort at 34:37.

Sheffield upped the tempo in the final period and got back into the game through goals from Cole Shudra at 44:09 followed by Bosas at 46:54. Boses went onto level the game late on with his second goal at 56:54 before a goalmouth scramble resulted in Sheffield clinching a 5-4 win thanks to a Tim Smith goal on 58:10.

Phoenix host the Bracknell Bees in Deeside on Sunday evening with a 6:30pm face-off.