Phoenix clinch overtime win over Sheffield

Saturday, 19th March 2016

Manchester Phoenix produced another comeback victory, as they claimed a 3-2 win in overtime over the Sheffield Steeldogs in Deeside.

Sheffield claimed an early lead as a Craig Elliott effort at 2:57 somehow found its way in, but Phoenix responded well with both Michal Satek and James Neil denied with good saves from Dalibor Sedlar. However, the visitors doubled their advantage following a Phoenix giveaway which allowed Andy Hirst to score the simplest of goals at 10:16.

Just as it looked like it might be a long night, Phoenix grabbed two goals in the final minute of the period. Robin Kovar set up Martin Baranek from behind the net and he fired home off the bar at 19:08. Shortly after, it was Stanislav Gron who found Satek with a similar pass at 19:41 to level the game at 2-2.

The second period was goalless with fewer chances, although Liam Kirk hit the post for Sheffield from close in and Sedlar made a number of saves on an excellent Phoenix Powerplay midway through the period.

The final session was also a cagey affair, although Sedlar made a good pad save from a Satek one-on-one backhand effort, whilst at the other end, Steve Fone made an incredible double save to keep out Arnoldas Bosas and then Lubomir Korhon on the rebound.

For the third home game in a row in Deeside, the game had to be settled in overtime. Ben Wood proved to be the hero for Phoenix as he buried his own rebound at 61:11 after Sedlar did well to keep out the initial effort.

Phoenix host the Bracknell Bees tomorrow night in Deeside in their final league game of the season with a 6:30pm face-off.