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Phoenix recover, but not enough

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A terrific second period fightback was not enough to secure the Manchester Phoenix a point from a 12-goal thriller in Nottingham’s National Ice Centre on Saturday night.

The home-town Panthers raced into a three-goal first period lead courtesy of Briane Thompson, Lee Jinman and John Craighead before Phoenix got their act together. Just 11 seconds into the second session, David Kozier reduced the arrears before bagging his second less than two minutes later on a powerplay. Mark Bultje tied the game at 3-3 on a 34th minute powerplay only for Nottingham to regain the initiative as Thompson scored his second of the game three minutes later.

The teams retired at the second break all square after Chad Brandimore fired a great shot into the top corner for the Phoenix third powerplay marker. Panthers Moran and Stancok gave them a two-goal third period lead before Petteri Lotila scored a tremendous individual effort in the 54th minute to keep Phoenix hopes alive – only for an empty-netter from Ahlroos in the final minute to secure the points for the Panthers.

Phoenix coach Paul Heavey noted, “We had a poor first period when the guys just did not perform, but we ‘reviewed’ some situations in the break and showed what we can do in the second, when we put our collective minds to it. At 4-4, we were well in the game and should have made more of the chances we had in the third period, but again a couple of mental lapses cost us dearly. We had a couple of guys carrying injuries tonight and needed the rest of the players to step up – we fell a little short in some areas of our play tonight and we have to put that right very, very soon.”