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Phoenix overcome Hull with third period blitz

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Manchester Phoenix hosted the Hull Pirates for the final time this season, after picking up a point in Guildford on Saturday night.

Phoenix started strongly and both Robin Kovar and James Archer were denied by Hull netminder Martins Raitums in the opening minute.  Hull came back into the game as the period wore on and Steve Fone had to be sharp on a number of occasions.  Kovar then saw a tip fly just wide for Phoenix, and Michael Satek saw a diving backhand come back off the side of the net as the period ended goalless.

The second period continued in the same vein with chances at either end but neither team managing to capitalise.  Hull forward Tommi Laine was stopped by Fone on a breakaway, whilst both Martin Baranek and Stanislav Gron were denied by Raitums from close in.  Nathan Salem then had two chances on a one-on-one saved by Fone, before Gron jinked past two Hull players late in the period but couldn’t find the net.

Phoenix went onto dominate the third period and broke the deadlock on the Powerplay, as a Satek pass from behind the net found James Neil completely free to fire home at 42:31.  The second goal quickly followed as Archer tipped in a Ben Wood shot at 45:08, before Hull’s Nathan Salem took his frustration out on Jacob Corson-Heron, with both receiving roughing penalties.

Raitums in the Hull net produced further saves from Kovar and Satek to keep the visitors in the game, before another fight saw Pasi Salonen pounce on Mark Thomas after a fair hit along the boards.  Phoenix wrapped up the game with a third as Gron fired under Raitums at 56:47 after being set up by Satek, with Fone completing a 28 shot shutout.

Phoenix are at home next Sunday evening against the Basingstoke Bison, with a 6:30pm face-off in Deeside.