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Capital response from Phoenix

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Capitals 1 - 3 Phoenix

Manchester Phoenix responded in fine style to the home loss to Edinburgh by returning the compliment in Murrayfield on Sunday.

Phoenix arrived in the Scottish capital knowing that a much-improved performance from Saturday was needed as well as the two points to get them back on track in the bmibaby Elite League. And whilst the game in the Murrayfield Ice Rink wasn't a classic, Phoenix battled hard all the way and thoroughly deserved the victory, despite being heavily outshot by their hosts.

Slovak defenceman Radoslav Hecl set them on the way with the opening goal on a 15th minute powerplay strike and that lone goal split the teams at the first interval. Edinburgh levelled early in the second period through Lou Dickenson, but Johan Molin - the Phoenix leading scorer - was quick to restore the visitors advantage within a minute, beating Murphy in the home goal on a powerplay pass from David Vychodil.

Phoenix were made to fight hard to retain their lead as they killed off a number of Edinburgh powerplays and eventually calmed their own nerves when Czech defenceman David Vychodil added the third goal with less than three minutes to play. Edinburgh pulled their netminder in the final minute in a last-ditch effort to save the game, but Phoenix were in no mood to relinquish what they fought so hard to earn.

Player coach Tony Hand noted, "The guys were more focussed tonight and we got what we came for and deserved for the effort they put in. Edinburgh deserved the points last night, we deserved them tonight, and so we'll take what we got and move on to Cardiff on Wednesday."