11:46pm Sunday 17th January 2010
By Nigel McFarlane
EPL ICE HOCKEY:
Saturday: Guildford Flames 9 Phoenix 2
Sunday: Phoenix 7 Guildford Flames 8 after OT and pens
The title aspirations of Manchester Phoenix were dealt a hammer blow at the weekend, as they suffered back to back defeats against the Guildford Flames.
After a crushing defeat at Guildford on Saturday, which head coach Tony Hand charitably described as "just not good enough," Phoenix showed tremendous character on Sunday night, twice recovering from three-goal deficits to force a regulation time draw before unluckily losing out in the drama of a penalty shootout.
Phoenix were desperate to give a bumper crowd its money's worth and they did not disappoint.
Phoenix began brightly, forcing the Flames to concede two early penalties, but they were unable to make the powerplay count. The home side were forcing the visitors into some desperate defending, but Guildford dug deep and opened the scoring in 14th minute, Gary Clarke finishing from close range for the only score of the opening period.
Guildford increased their lead to three-nil by the 26-minute mark, Lukas Smital and a Martin Masa powerplay strike giving the Phoenix a mountain to climb. Phoenix needed some inspiration and they got it from the stick of their player coach Tony Hand when he backhanded their first goal in the 32nd minute to lift the spirits of the fans.
The goal sparked a superb five-minute spell that saw the Phoenix draw level and take the lead by the second interval. Greg Wood seized on a Robert Lachowicz feed to make it 2-3 and just 62 seconds later, leading scorer Ed Courtenay tied the score on a pass from Hand. A penalty on Flames' Lundin gave Phoenix another powerplay opportunity and Adam Walker beat Dean Skinns in the visitors goal with a long-range effort from the left wing. The sheen of the lead though was spoiled as Jaakko Hagelberg was ejected from the game on a Match Penalty for a high stick.
With Phoenix, already without the suspended Andre Payette, defending a five-minute penalty for the Hagelberg incident, Guildford took full advantage of the long powerplay as Lundin tied the score with a long range shot and Masa bagged his second of the game to put them back in front. Recent signing Adrian Saul scored an excellent shorthanded goal to make it 6-4 and Smital bagged his second of the game with just over ten minutes to play.
Having recovered one three goal deficit, Phoenix set about repeating the act when James Neil fired a shot from the blue line that dipped under the crossbar with nine minutes on the clock. Two minutes later and it was a one-goal game, Robert Lachowicz converting an excellent feed from Iain Bowie and the home crowd were baying for the equaliser. And with four minutes to play, it was the Hand/Courtenay duo that brought the crowd to its feet, Hand the provider for Courtenay to slot home his 35th of the season to take the game to sudden death overtime.
Neither side could find an overtime winner and the extra point ultimately went to the Flames as Adrian Saul slipped their fourth penalty shot through the legs of Phoenix netminder Steve Fone.
Tony Hand said: "We went into tonight missing an experienced player and by the second break, we'd lost another. So despite the final result, I think we showed tremendous character to twice fight back from being three goals behind.
"Guildford have a very powerful line-up and we had to battle very hard. And considering the score from Saturday, I think the effort was exceptional tonight. We had a big crowd, a terrific atmosphere and I hope the new people in the crowd enjoyed what they saw even if we didnt get the two points on offer."
Manchester Phoenix are next at home to Swindon Wildcats on Sunday, January 24th. Face off is 5.30pm in the Altrincham Ice Dome. For details visit www.manchesterphoenix.co.uk
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/trade_directory/