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Boothroyd overtime winner as Phoenix edge Lightning in a thriller

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Manchester Phoenix 5 - 4 Milton Keynes Lightning (after overtime)

Manchester Phoenix completed an amazing four-point weekend with another come-from-behind victory on Sunday having trailed the Milton Keynes Lightning 4-1 after 35 minutes, and it was captain Luke Boothroyd who smashed the winner through the legs of Barry Hollyhead two minutes into the sudden death period.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand praised his squad saying, "I give all the credit to my players tonight, they fought and battled for every puck and I thought we deserved the points for their effort and determination alone. At 4-1 down, we could have let our heads drop, but they simply rolled up their sleeves and gave it their all. That's two nights on the trot we've had to battle back from a deficit, but the guys are showing a belief in themselves that as a coach is so pleasing to see. We've had a great run recently and we've got some hard game before Christmas to contend with as we lose four guys to the GB Under-20 team, and that will test the rest of us even more. Tonight though, we can enjoy a the rewards of a hard-fought weekend and build towards a tough trip to Peterborough on Thursday."

Milton Keynes grabbed the opening goal on their first powerplay opportunity in the fourth minute as Adam Brittle deked the puck around Adam Summerfield for the unassisted marker. Tont Hand was unlucky to see the puck bobble in front of him as Ed Courtenay found him in oceans of space and the chance went begging. Lightning, roared on by a tremendous travelling support then doubled their advantage in the ninth minute, Zatopek setting up Kalgoum to score. As has happened in every game between these two sides this season, the pace was relentless with both goalies facing nine shots apiece in the opening session.

The visitors began to fall foul of the referee in the second period, but Phoenix were unable to make the most of three powerplay chances before Milton Keynes stretched their lead to three just before the half-hour mark, Brittle forcing home his second of the game. Phoenix needed a goal and just over a minute later, they got their reward as the first line of Courtenay, Hand and Walker combined with Adam Walker the scorer. The goal boosted the home crowd, but it was the travelling support next on their feet as Kalgoum netted his second of the game in the 36th minute and for the second night in succession, the league leaders were facing a 4-1 deficit. The earlier penalty trouble struck the visitors again though as Christie and Jamieson were sin-binned in quick succession and the Phoenix powerplay made them pay. First, Hand and Courtenay combined to set up Andre Mattsson and less than thirty seconds later, Walker netted his second of the game assisted by Hagelberg and Mattsson. Phoenix had dominated the second period and their two late goals were just reward for their efforts.

The pace and at times bruising physicality of the game continued unabated in the final period with Phoenix pressing hard for the equaliser and the Lightning dangerous on the counter-attack. Tempers were in danger of fraying and when Jamieson was called for Tripping with three minutes left in regulation time, Phoenix had the chance they'd been hoping for. On the resulting powerplay, they needed just 19 seconds for Courtenay to blast a shot that Jaakko Hagelberg got the telling deflection to and the score was tied to the delight of the home crowd. The goal though was too much for Lightning player coach Nick Poole and he voiced his opinion on the penalty call too vociferously and picked up a ten-minute Misconduct penalty that was to prove crucial. Out of the game, Poole was unable to influence the overtime period and Lightning tempers frayed again when Phoenix captain Luke Boothroyd blasted the game-winning goal through the legs of Lightning goalie Barry Hollyhead to seal a terrific come-from-behind victory.

As the Lightning lost some of their composure at having lost the game, forward Grant MacPherson was assessed a ten-minute Misconduct and Game Misconduct for Abuse of the officials.

And with news coming through that Peterborough, the Phoenix next opponents in the league on Thursday, had beaten Basingstoke, the Phoenix are now confirmed in a semi-final berth in the EPL Cup competition.