After a loss at Swindon on Saturday night and what seemed like a poor game for Phoenix, it was time for Bracknell to visit the Ice Dome for the first time this season. Following the loss of Pinc and Cesky to Swindon, Bracknell signed Masa and Smital from Guildford as replacements. Both these players are very influential players and could make it difficult for Phoenix tonight. If I'm being honest I quite fancied Masa for the Phoenix team this year as he impressed me when he played against us last season. Archer and Ward return for this game but Spelda is still out following ankle surgery.
First Period
The first period saw Phoenix take control of the game and after only 1:04 minutes, Phoenix took the lead following some great passing from Cingel and Hand for Faith to slot the puck home. The lead didn't last long and with 3 minutes on the clock Bracknell levelled the game, Thompson chipping the puck over Fone's head. At 4:41, the Ward, Long and Duggan line started to get going and created some great chances, unfortunately the quick reactions of Ambler denied Phoenix the chance of taking the lead. The Phoenix fans didn't have to wait much longer for another goal and at 5:54 Wallace fired the puck into the top left hand corner just making it over the line. At 6:34 the first penalty of the game was called, unfortunately it was against Harabin for tripping. However the power play didn't seem to phase Phoenix who spent most of their time in the Bees zone and trying to get another goal past Ambler. The chances just kept coming for Phoenix and at 10:36 Cingel had a great chance but his shot just missed the net. After this Bracknell started to get frustrated and at 15:25 there was a few handbags between Spearing and Johnson which resulted in Spearing getting a 10 minute misconduct penalty for trying to start a fight which Johnson wasn't having any of so hence he didn't get a penalty. At 16:02 Phoenix extended the lead further, this time Koulikov received a great pass to tap the puck into the back of the net. With 2 minutes left in the period there was a great scrap in front of the Bees net to try and get the puck into the net. The referee blew the whistle but I'm not entirely sure he knew where the puck was as there was that many bodies!
After an eventful first period, Phoenix were leading the game 3-1 and they were looking good. The passing and puck work was impressive and they had dominated the period. The Bees didn't seem to really get into the game and apart from the goal seemed to stay in the shadows. Hopefully now Phoenix have the lead they won't stop playing and continue to maintain it in the second period.
Goals - Phoenix 1:04 - Faith, Assist - Cingel, Hand, Bees 3:00 - Thompson, Assist - Johnson, Masa, Phoenix 5:54 - Wallace, Assist - Koulikov, Boothroyd, Phoenix 16:02 - Koulikov (unassisted)
Second Period
The second period started well for Phoenix and pretty much straight from the face off, Faith got his second of the night, straight past Ambler and into the top right hand corner. Not long after this Phoenix had another great attempt at goal, this time Wallace fancied his second of the night, after some fancy puck work and some dodgy saves from Ambler the puck just wouldn't get in the back of the net. At 30:04, Boothroyd was called for interference and the Bees took advantage of the power play, a well worked goal scored by Jasik saw the Bees close down the lead. The Phoenix defence started to look a bit shaky and at 33:17 Smital tapped in an easy one to make us Phoenix fans a little nervous.
So the Bees had started a come back meaning only a one goal difference to start the third period. Phoenix started well but yet again once we get the lead we seem to lose concentration. The defence seemed to be lacking when needed and Fone didn't look as solid in net as usual. The Bees have never seemed to shine, the power play goal was a good goal but the other was pretty easy to score and was tapped in. The referee had missed a few calls which hadn't helped either team. Phoenix need to forget the second period and play like they did in the first in order to win the game.
Goals - Phoenix 21:43 - Faith, Assist - Hand, Bees 31:06 - Jasik, Assist - Smital, Graham (power play), Bees 33:17 - Smital, Assist - Johnson
Third Period
Phoenix again started the period well and created numerous chances including Hand robbing the puck from Ambler and his shot being nearly scooped into the back of the net by Ambler! At 46:43 Phoenix finally managed another goal, following a great pass from Long to Duggan, who made Ambler go one way whilst he slot the puck past him the other. Bracknell obviously didn't like this and at 54:09 it all kicked off. Harabin and Masa came together at centre and Watchorn, who seems to have a big ego and wanted to prove a point, dropped his gloves and attacked Harabin who didn't have a chance to fight him back. Thankfully he got a match penalty for roughing which he thoroughly deserved. Harabin got a two minute penalty for kneeing and Masa two minutes for slashing. Phoenix kept the pressure on until the end of the game, creating chance after chance but unfortunately for the Phoenix fans no more goals were forthcoming and the buzzer sounded to end the game.
At the end of the game, Phoenix finally win a game at home this season with out going into overtime (I was in Sweden with the boy when we beat Peterborough)! I think that Phoenix played well tonight, probably the best I have seen them play this season. Things were starting to work, passes were being completed and the team looked a lot more confident than the previous games. The defence still needs a bit of work but I think the players are adjusting to not having Spelda on the ice and could have possibly caused the issues tonight. The Bees didn't seem to ever get going, I think that they have some stand out players but Ambler can be a bit hit and miss in net which causes problems in the defence.
Goals - Phoenix 50:54 - Duggan, Assist - Long
Final Score - Phoenix 5 - Bees 3
MOM - Phoenix - Faith, Bees - Smital
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