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Hull win dramatic game on penalties

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Manchester Phoenix had only one fixture this weekend, which ended in a 4-3 defeat on penalty shots following an even and temperamental encounter.

The first period was dominated by Phoenix who scored with their first shot at 1:31 as Robin Kovar found Roman Malinik, and he found the top corner with a perfectly placed shot.  Phoenix continued to create chances as Hull netminder Jordan Marr made a series of saves from Edgars Bebris and Malinik.  Hull scored with their first powerplay at 12:21 through Stanislav Lascek who found himself free in front of goal as the period ended 1-1.

Andrej Themar must have thought he’d given Hull the lead early in the second period but he was robbed by an incredible Steve Fone save.  Hull were enjoying plenty of time in the Phoenix zone but were unable to create any clear openings, and Phoenix regained the lead on the powerplay at 26:02 as Marek Indra danced through the defence before netting an excellent backhand.  The game became feistier as the period wore on, with Nathan Salem unsurprisingly taking a series of penalties but Hull levelled again with a well-worked goal from Themar at 38:10.

There was little to choose between the two sides in the final period – Indra broke clear on the powerplay but was denied whilst Hull wasted a couple of presentable opportunities.  However, Indra was left unmarked and scored from the slot at 57:48 to put Phoenix back in front, but they were unable to hang on as Ugnius Cizas scrambled a late equaliser at 59:38 to force overtime.

Phoenix had the better of the extra session, registering five shots to take their total to 50 for the game but no one could find the killer touch as the game went to penalties.  Both sides scored two of their first three efforts, with some exemplary finishing, but the game was finally decided in the sixth round as Hull claimed the extra point.

Phoenix are at home next Sunday evening against the Peterborough Phantoms, with a 5pm face-off in Blackpool.