Finally, the 2011-2012 season has arrived and following a trip to Slough on Saturday where we managed a 5-3 win and the 2 points it was time for Bison to visit the Ice Dome and what better way to start our defending season then hopefully sealing a 4 point weekend. Bison are no pushovers and after a altercation last season with Mr Chinn and Mr Harabin there seemed to be a few matters to settle meaning we were in for an exciting and physical game.
First Period
At the beginning of the game, Phoenix seemed to be on a high from beating Slough the previous night and we seemed to be in control. Duggan and Cingel both had great chances which managed to ricochet off the post. At 5:28 Ward broke away resulting in a shot on goal which Colclough looked to have saved, the referree blew his whistle which seemed to be under 3 seconds and the puck trickled over the line. Much to the Phoenix fans dismay the goal was not allowed due to the referree's "quick" whistle. At 6:51 Phoenix lost control of the game. Heron caught Wood napping in defence resulting in the first goal of the evening which was pretty much handed to him on a plate! At 14:42 Phoenix managed to tie the game with a great pick up and pass by Hand to Cingel who slotted the puck into the net. Despite the tying, Phoenix started to lose momentum and the defence seemed to disappear which Bison made the most of. At 15:04 after a bit of a prod and a poke the puck found it's way past Fone curtosy of our former Phoenix player Joe Miller. After that there seemed to be no stopping Bison and after another Phoenix defence disappearing act, Dubec got his name on the score card with a shorthanded goal which Fone did well to try and stop.
So at the end of the first, Bison had established a great lead by taking advantage of the mistakes made by Phoenix. They didn't seem to be creating as many chances as Phoenix were but were managing to finish the chances they got, which Phoenix weren't able to do. When Phoenix did create the chances Colclough was there to stop them in anyway he could and was proving difficult to beat. Hopefully Phoenix will have had a good talking to and will come out fighting next period.
Goals - Bison 6:51 - Heron, Assist - Chong, Tribe, Phoenix 14:42 - Cingel, Assist - Hand, Faith, Bison 15:04 - Miller, Assist - Harris, Chinn, Bison 18:23 - Dubec (shorthanded)
Second Period
Phoenix did come out fighting (well done Tony!) and after only 45 seconds of the period, the new and improved Wallace slotted the puck home for the long awaited second goal of the night. Bison started to get physical which resulted in a few retaliating digs from the Phoenix players. Unfortunately the referee had forgotten his glasses and at 33:14 Archer made his way to the penalty box for roughing followed by Harabin 22 seconds later for holding, resulting in Phoenix on a 3 on 5 penalty kill. Bison were kept at bay by some excellent defending and at 37:43 Wallace managed to find the back of the Phoenix net again to tie the game 3-3. At 39:40 another dodgy call by the referee resulted in Harabin returning to the box so Bison would start the third period on the powerplay.
End of the second and Phoenix had made a come back. The goals were well worked and things seemed to be clicking. Bison had become physical which had resulted in some poor decisions from the referee on both sides and Phoenix seemed to spend the majority of their time in the penalty box. However the penalty kill seemed to be working and Bison hadn't managed a goal on the power play. Bison will definitely coming out fighting as there is still all to play for and will probably up their physical presence on the ice. Phoenix need to hold their own and take advantage of the power play (if they get any!)
Goals - Phoenix 20:45 - Wallace, Assist - Koulikov, Phoenix 37:43 - Wallace, Assist - Hand, Cingel
Third Period
So the third period got underway and after some more sloppy defending by Phoenix, Bison took the lead again and Miller got his second of the night against his former team. At 43:36, Phoenix went on the power play when the referee called Dubec for roughing. Phoenix took advantage of the situation and at 43:57 Cingel got his second of the night to tie the game again at 4-4. At 46:11 Bronniman received a penalty for hooking and after mouthing off at the referee he spent another 10 minutes in the box for misconduct. Towards the end of the game the referee (yet again without his glasses) managed to miss a high stick to Archer and a boarding call on Duggan. He finally managed to put someone in the box at 56:11 but the game was drawing to a close and into over time we went.
Goals - Bison 42:07 - Miller, Assist - Moira, Phoenix 43:57 - Cingel, Assist - Hand (power play)
Over Time
We only saw 42 seconds of over time and it was possibly the strangest piece of hockey I've ever watched. After the normal opening face off and an icing call, the puck was brought back into the Bison zone for the face off. Hand and Moira skated up take the face off as usual and I'm not entirely sure how it happened, either Hand won the puck and had an attempt on goal or Moira won the face off and flicked the puck towards his own net, but somehow the puck managed to get past Colclough and into the back of the net, much to the Phoenix fans and the players amazement!
So at the end of the game Phoenix take the points for the first 4 point weekend of the new season (let's hope there are a lot more to come!) I think that the teams were quite evenly matched throughout the game and over time was probably the best result for both teams. I think that Colclough was brilliant in net and definitely deserved man of the match. Miller did a great job up front and it was nice to see him back to scoring form. To me, Phoenix didn't seem to play as well as they did against Steeldogs, that could be because Bison are a better team but there was just something wrong that I can't put my finger on. It's probably because they are still gelling as a team which is an ongoing process but like I said before there is definitely potential. I think that Wallace and Boothroyd played very well tonight, Wallace seems to have more of a presence on the ice than last season and Boothroyd has become a bit more physical! One concern is that Spelda didn't ice for the second and third periods tonight, I'm not sure whether that is because of an injury or not, fingers crossed it's the latter.
Bring on next weekend and the Swindon Wildcats. See you all there!
Goals - Phoenix 60:42 - Hand
Final Score - Phoenix 5 - Bison 4
MOM - Phoenix - Wallace, Bison - Colclough
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