After what some might say was a thrashing by Milton Keynes on Saturday, losing 5-2 and dropping to second in the league, it was time for the second home game of the season and for us to claw 2 points back. Swindon have made some good signings over the Summer including Jarislav Cesky and Michal Pinc from Bracknell, who bring bags of experience to the side and create a pretty impressive top line. Hopefully they wouldn't get chance tonight!
First Period
Phoenix took control of the period early on and pretty much straight from the face off, Wallace had a great attempt following some impressive work from Koulikov and Duggan which much to fans disappointment, Murdy saved. Phoenix continued to to have some great attempts on goal including a shot by Boothroyd which was clipped over the net and out of play. At 12:38, Phoenix had the best chance of the game, Faith broke away and became one on one with the netminder, unfortunately his shot found the metal work and bounced off the crossbar. At 14:35 Swindon started to become alive and managed to break away, Boothroyd managed to take him out and got called for hooking. Phoenix were lucky because from where I was sitting this could have been a penalty shot moment for Swindon.
After an eventful period of hockey, the game was tied at 0-0. Phoenix had had plenty of chances and it seemed to be a re-run of last week, we just didn't seem to be able to finish. Murdy was keeping Swindon in the game and was standing on is head in net for them. All to play for in the second period.
Second Period
Both teams came out fighting in the second period but the Phoenix defence seemed to be unstoppable and when Swindon managed to break it Fone was saving everything some of which were that good chants of "Foney! Foney! echoed around the Ice Dome. At 22:57 a well worked Phoenix goal resulted in the tie being broken and Cingel got his name on the score card (again!) After the goal, Phoenix started to get in the groove, they quickened up their game and after me screaming "Shoot!" for most of the period, at 25:01 Spelda finally took my advice and a rocket from the blue line fired past Murdy into the top right hand corner. No stopping that one! At 25:53 Cingel was called for slashing and Swindon had the advantage of the power play. Unfortunately for them the Phoenix defence had been great all night and the power play was killed without them getting a look in. Swindon's penalty killing attempt was not as successful when at 27:32 Aldridge was called for hooking and Phoenix by way of Mr Cingel (yet again!) extended the lead with, what looked like a back handed tap of the puck into the back of the net. Towards the end of the period, the previously strong Phoenix defence started to look a bit shaky under pressure and Swindon finally managed a goal at 38:40 which was chipped into the top left hand corner by Richardson. With 30 seconds of the period remaining, Swindon had another great chance, there was a mad scramble in front of the net and I'm not entirely sure how the puck didn't end up in the back of the but Fone threw himself on the puck to finally get the whistle.
So after the second period, Phoenix lead 3-1, the defence had been great, apart from a few hiccups towards the end but Fone had been unbelievable in net and looked like he was getting into the groove again. Phoenix had upped the tempo and seemed to be playing a smarter game than Swindon. Swindon didn't appear to have had enough momentum to beat the defence, apart from the late goal they never appeared to get going. Phoenix had a tendency to go up early on and then only win by a small margin at the end of the game. Let's hope that doesn't happen tonight.
Goals - Phoenix 22:57 - Cingel, Assist - Faith, Harabin, Phoenix 25:01 - Spelda, Assist - Duggan, Neil, Phoenix 28:18 - Cingel, Assist - Koulikov, Swindon 38:40 - Richardson, Assist - Taylor, Bullas
Third Period
Unfortunately for Phoenix, the third period started were it left off and at 42:46 Swindon closed the gap courtesy of the ex-Bracknell players I mentioned before, Cesky and Pinc. Swindon continued to keep the pressure on and both teams created chance after chance, but neither team were able to finish them off, mainly because of the great game that both net minders were having. Both teams started to get more physical and a nasty hit to Boothroyd saw him hobble off the ice to the bench, luckily, it transpired that it was no more than a broken skate and he returned to the defence shortly afterwards. With 53 seconds left of the game, Swindon called a time out and pulled Murdy once the play had re-started. Phoenix managed to defend well and limited Swindon's time in the Phoenix zone. With less than 10 seconds remaining, Spelda sent the puck up the ice towards to empty net, missing by a fraction. Confusion breaks out as the buzzer sounds to end the game, but as the puck had been iced by Phoenix, 3 seconds were put back on the clock and the puck was dropped resulting in the second end to the game!
So at the end of the game, Phoenix managed to gain 2 points from the weekend. The performance of Phoenix is improving, albeit slowly. Fone seems to be getting back into the swing of things following the summer break and the imports are finally finding their places within the team. I am happy that Phoenix managed to dominate most of the game and the defence, whilst there were a few hiccups, started the game well and started to impress me, especially that rocket of a goal from Spelda! Swindon are an improved team from last season and I think that Murdy did a great job in net and made things difficult for Phoenix at times. Unfortunately they seem to rely on their top line a lot, which when they are good is a great advantage (like Phoenix last season) but if they are shut down they struggle leaving Murdy to do his best in defence.
My thoughts on the MK game...well I am not surprised we lost to them, they are a good side and they haven't changed the line up that much from last season, therefore most of them have played together before and understand each others style of hockey. Most teams in the EPL are still finding their feet (or skates!) and the players are still learning about each other. However I am hoping that it doesn't take too long for Phoenix to get to know each other...I want that EPL championship back!!
Goals - Swindon 42:46 - Cesky, Assist - Pinc, Richardson
Final Score - Phoenix 3 - Swindon 2
MOM - Phoenix - Fone, Swindon - Murdy
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