Mixed fortunes for Phoenix this weekend

Sunday, 24th March 2013

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix had a victory and a defeat as they wrapped up regular season play in the English Premier Ice Hockey League.

They followed up an overtime win in Sheffield on Friday evening with a defeat by Telford Tigers at home on Sunday evening.

Phoenix made a great start against the Sheffield Steeldogs with Tom Duggan scoring twice in the first period. Duggan hit his hat trick goal on 21.15 as Phoenix totally dominated the game. They moved further ahead with goal number 4 scored by Bari McKenzie and the second period ended with the visitors 4-0 to the good.

Steeldogs pulled a goal back 48 seconds into the third period through Edgars Bebris. Phoenix restored their 4 goal advantage three minutes later with a Joachim Flaten strike only for Andrew Hirst to score for the Steeldogs on 45.56. Thirty seconds later Duggan hit his fourth of the evening seemingly ensuring the points went west across the Pennines.

However, the home side had other ideas and a second goal from Hirst made it a 6-3 game.

Then the floodgates opened just after the Sheffield side lost defender Ben Morgan to a match penalty for slashing. Two short-handed goals by Sheffield reduced the deficit and with just 63 seconds left in a pulsating game, Bebris hit his hat trick goal to take the game to overtime. Sanity was restored in the Phoenix ranks with 9 seconds left in the overtime period when Tom Duggan hit the game winning goal, his fifth of the evening, to give Phoenix the points. This victory ensured Phoenix of a final placing of third in the league.

A large crowd gathered on Sunday evening to cheer their favourites on against the Telford Tigers. A large, colourful and vociferous Tigers support made the atmosphere electric in the Dome. Phoenix took the lead on 4 minutes when Tony Hand, operating in his “office” behind the net, found Michal Psurny all alone in front of goal and the Phoenix top scorer made no mistake. Tigers equalised ten minutes later with an unassisted goal by Thomas Soar and the period ended 1-1.

Phoenix were the better side in the second period and goals from Metros player Jared Dickinson, (a neat pick up of his own rebound after the first shot was well saved by Declan Ryan in the Tigers goal). Psurny hit his second of the evening on the half hour mark and Liam Chong made it 4-1 just over a minute later. The period ended with the home side well in control and leading 4-1.

If the second period was dominated by Phoenix, the exact opposite happened in the third. A three goal salvo in 39 seconds completely changed the complexion of the match and put the Tigers firmly in the driving seat. The visitors’ goals came from Thomas Soar, James Preece and Tomas Karpov. Worse was to come for Phoenix in the 58th minute when Telford took a lead they were able to hang on to and take the points home to Shropshire. The goal, scored by Daniel Mark-Rose, was timed at 58.19, assisted by Luke Brittle and James Preece.

A shell-shocked home side trooped off, wondering how they let the game slip away from them. All credit to the Tigers who gained the momentum after their early third period goal and they even had the luxury of a missed penalty shot by Scott McKenzie late in the game.

Final score 4-5 in favour of the visitors.

Coach Hand said: “I was disappointed we let this game slip from our grasp. We should have closed out the game. All credit to Telford who took their chances in the third period. We will work hard next week and be ready for our quarter final against Bracknell at the weekend.”