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Tallari at the treble as Phoenix sink the Vipers

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Manchester Phoenix made it a four-point weekend with a stunning 5-2 home win on Sunday night including a hat-trick show from Joe Tallari.

The Vipers arrived in Altrincham with a 100% winning record and got off to a fine start with Dean Holland opening the scoring in the 7th minute, with his first goal in bmibaby Elite League play. Phoenix, boosted by their terrific win in Belfast on Saturday night drew level within a minute as player coach Tony Hand finished off a move involving Joe Tallari and Brian Passmore. The visitors though got their noses in front at the first break as, with KC Timmons in the penalty box, former Phoenix star Derek Campbell gave the Vipers their second lead on the powerplay.

Phoenix re-grouped in the interval and came roaring back in the second period with Sean Starke equalising in the 24th minute. Phoenix took the lead for the first time in the 28th minute as they tore the Vipers defence apart with a goal of the highest quality. Simon Mangos found Tallari in space on the right flank and he gained the offensive zone before passing inside to Brian Passmore. Tallari cut to the back post and Passmore found him with an inch-perfect pass to comprehensively beat MacDonald in the Vipers goal. The Italian Canadian added his second of the game nine minutes later finishing a pass from Tony Hand and the second interval saw Phoenix ahead 4-2.

Tallari completed his straight hat-trick early in the third period with a powerplay deflection on a Scott Basiuk blast, to claim his fifth goal of the weekend and notch the 100th goal so far this season in the bmibaby Elite League. Phoenix dominated the final period and at times, MacDonald in the Vipers net must have felt he was in a shooting gallery such was the home sides superiority. The Vipers frustration overflowed in the final three minutes as Andre Payette was ejected on a 5+Game penalty for Fighting in an incident that also saw Phoenix defenceman Jeff MacMillan pick up a Fighting major.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand commented, "It's been a really good weekend for the team. We played really well in Belfast on Saturday and I thought we dominated Newcastle for long periods of tonight's' game. I'm pleased with the way the guys have bounced back after the disappointment of the opening weekend, we played some good hockey and whilst Joe deserves mention, it was nice for Sean and Brian to get their accounts open this weekend too."

Next weekend, the Phoenix travel to Basingstoke on Saturday, before hosting the Nottingham Panthers at the Silver Blades Ice Dome on Sunday with face-off at 5.30pm.