Derby win for Phoenix

Sunday, 17th March 2013

Manchester Phoenix 3 - Sheffield Steeldogs 2

Phoenix scorers: Liam Chong, Richard Bentham and Bari McKenzie.

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix fought fire with fire tonight to regain some pride and beat their local rivals 3-2.

Phoenix were without Michal Psurny, Stephen Fone and Ondrej Pozivil who had not sufficiently recovered from illness to ice. The match started at a furious pace and Phoenix tested Steeldogs netminder Sedlar early on. Steeldogs were not without their chances but their usual feisty play was disrupting play and denying Phoenix their usual flowing style. The visitors took the lead against the run of play with 58 seconds left in the period with a neat goal from Edgars Berbris, assisted by Matt Haywood. The period ended with no further scoring and, despite being out-shot, Steeldogs led 1-0.

Phoenix stormed out of the traps in the second and equalised on 21.27 with a lovely goal by Liam Chong. Joachim Flaten found Andrew McKinney centre ice and his pin point pass was controlled by Chong and blasted past Sedlar. Controversy then ensued with McKinney being adjudged to have kicked out at an opponent and was given a match penalty. Phoenix resolutely defended the 5 minute penalty and took the game to the Steeldogs. The visitors were still looking dangerous on the break and Andrew Jaszczyk in the Phoenix goal brought off some fine saves. Phoenix took the lead on 30.59 after nice work in front of the net by Richard Bentham. Assists went to Joachim Flaten and Tony Hand. The large crowd went wild as Phoenix doubled their lead a minute later with an absolutely delightful goal by Bari McKenzie. Bari drove goalwards from the right wing, completely bamboozled both the defence and the netminder to make it 3-1. Greg Wood pulled one back for the Steeldogs on 35.49 but it was Phoenix who went to the locker room the happier of the two teams with a 3-2 lead.

Phoenix again dominated in the third period but the Steeldogs looked threatening on numerous occasions, only to find Andy Jaszczyk in good form to keep the score at 3-2. Phoenix had to defend with a man short for the most of the last two minutes as Tony Hand sat out a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck directly over the plexi. Steeldogs pulled their netminder for the last 40 seconds but Phoenix held on for the victory.

With just two regular season games left, Phoenix move back into third place in the league and will be looking to consolidate that position with an away game in Sheffield on Friday and the final regular season home game against the Telford Tigers on Sunday.