6 wins in a row see Phoenix top the table

Sunday, 14th October 2012

Manchester Phoenix 4 - Guildford Flames 3 (OT)

Phoenix scorers: Michal Psurny (2), Scott McKenzie and Joachim Flaten

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix bagged another 4 point weekend to go top of the table for the first time this season. In a pulsating match, Joachim Flaten scored the winner with just 60 seconds left in the overtime period.

Early skirmishes were pretty even but it was the visitors who took the lead with 4.55 on the clock. Good work down the right wing from Kohut found David Longstaff who passed cross ice to the waiting Curtis Huppe and his blistering shot found its way past Stephen Fone for the opening goal. 23 seconds later, a late high challenge from Curtis Huppe angered the Phoenix players and Andy McKinney came in to have his say on the matter. The resultant melee saw Huppe sit out 2 plus 2 for the fight and surprisingly only 2 further minutes for the elbow. McKinney was given 2 plus 2 for the fight and 2 minutes for charging. The rest of the period was end to end with Guildford out shooting their hosts but Phoenix having the upper hand going into the first break despite being a goal down.

Both teams had good chances to score early in the second period with Flames hitting the post after just 35 seconds and Mark Lee in the Flames’ goal bringing of a great save from McKinney. The Phoenix equaliser their play merited came on 26.38. Tom Duggan grafted hard behind the net and played the puck to the corner of the crease for Scott McKenzie to guide the puck past Mark Lee before he could move. The Dome erupted just 4 minutes later when the home side took the lead. Joachim Flaten passed to Tony Hand who found Michal Psurny with his back to goal. Two movements later, after a lovely turn and shot, the puck was nestling behind Lee. 2-1 Phoenix. The home side were in control and looking more likely to add to their tally than Flames were to drawing level. However, it was the Flames who scored with 3 minutes left in the period through Nathan Rempel, assisted by Andrew Hemmings and Branislav Kvetan. Forty minutes played and a scoreline of 2-2 meant there was all to play for in the final period.

Guildford man of the match Mark Lee pulled off another superb save early in the second period to keep the scores level but Phoenix were not to be denied for much longer. With 47.11 on the board, Tony Hand found Flaten whose shot was well saved by Mark Lee. The rebound came straight out to the waiting Michal Psurny who one-timed the puck past the despairing Flames netminder. Phoenix controlled the rest of the period but were pegged back with less than a minute to play. Flames pulled Mark Lee for the extra out-skater and this time the tactic paid off with the equalising goal through Andrew Hemmings, assisted by Plant and Savage. Despite a couple of chances at either end, there was no further scoring and the match moved into overtime.

Robert Schnabel was harshly called for tripping early in the period but Flames only had a man advantage for just over a minute as David Savage appeared to get off lightly with only a 2 minute charging call as he caught Ondrej Pozivil with a very late hit. Phoenix were dominating the extra stanza and scored the winner with exactly one minute left in the game.

James Archer found Joachim Flaten who beat Lee for the extra point goal. Phoenix man of the match was awarded to Michal Psurny.

An excellent, entertaining game saw Phoenix take the 2 points to add to their win the previous night in Guildford and find themselves at the top of the table.