After two away defeats to Guildford and Peterborough, the Phoenix had bounced back with a home win against Peterborough and a road win against Basingstoke. Me and the boy had missed the Peterborough game as were at my godson's Christening (he will be brought to a Phoenix game very soon!!) so we were both looking forward to Slough Jets' visit to the Dome. Slough have the dangerous Adam Calder in their ranks so the Phoenix defence were to be in for a tough game all night but were boosted by the return of import Jaro Spelda from injury who returned in the previous night's win against Bison. Slough also like to play on the edge of the rules with the Greener "sisters" (as the boy calls them) and Watt so Wardell was to have a busy night if he wanted to keep them in check!
First Period
The first period started fairly even and both teams created plenty of chances but Fone and Rockman were making things difficult for either team to get off the mark. However Slough were creating the more positive play and unfortunately for Phoenix, at 7:59, Calder rifled the puck past Fone's left shoulder and into the back of the net. The rest of the period continued as it started with both teams generating fast play, making an entertaining period of hockey to watch. With 10 seconds left of the period, Phoenix had a great opportunity to tie the game, but Archer could only find the metal work rather than the net.
Phoenix started the game pretty much like every other game, created plenty of chances but were unable to finish. Rockman, as always, was standing strong between the pipes and making things very difficult for us to find the back of the net. However if it wasn't for that bloody metal work (again) we'd be even stevens. Slough weren't having that much luck either apart from the goal, which I have to admit was a cracker, they were also finding it hard to get past Fone. Hopefully in the next period, lady luck will shine down on Phoenix!
Goals - Slough 7:59 - Calder, Assists - Sheppard, J Greener
Second Period
God only knows what happened to Phoenix in the second period, they fell asleep and Slough rang rings around them. The onslaught began just 51 seconds in when on a delayed penalty call Calder found the back of the net again for Slough's second of the game. At 27:37, Wardell made an awful call which didn't help matters and put Neil in the box for hooking. This put Phoenix at a disadvantage and Slough extended their lead at 27:57 when Joe Greener was left to his own devices to slot the puck past Fone. Shortly after this Phoenix called a time out to try and compose themselves but the frustration seemed to get the better of them and after Symonds decided to check one of the Phoenix players from behind, tempers started to flare and Cingel found himself in the box for charging along with Symonds sitting out for a lovely 2 plus 10. Even these penalties didn't help matters and at 29:51 Sheppard scored shorthanded for Slough's fourth of the game. Phoenix started to look dead and buried and the team that were managing to give Slough a run for their money in the first period seemed to have disappeared. It was like a totally different team had come out for the second! At 35:21, Phoenix conceded the most awfully defended goal I have ever seen and Davies easily finished it off by hitting the back of the net. Towards the end of the period, Slough managed to get another goal past Fone, but luckily for the Phoenix fans it was washed out due to a player being in the crease and the period ended (thank god!)
This was possibly one of the worst periods of Phoenix hockey I have ever witnessed. It was like they were coming out for the second to a deficit of 10 goals and that they knew they couldn't come back from it. There was only one goal in it and now Phoenix were 5-0 down to which I couldn't see ever coming back from. Ok, Wardell's call on Neil did not help matters, but then again I'm not entirely sure having an even number of players on the ice would have helped. At least it gave us Phoenix fans something to shout about and blame someone other than our players (granted it was a shocking call!) What makes it even more frustrating is that Slough weren't playing brilliantly, they just took advantage of the mistakes. However I am never one to give up on my team and I will never walk out of a game early because anything can happen in hockey and I don't want to miss it! I just hoped that the players weren't too down and out and give us Phoenix fans something to cheer about in the third period. It is not over until the fat lady sings!
Goals - Slough 20:51 - Calder, Assists - Sheppard, J Greener, Slough 27:57 - J Greener (powerplay) Slough 29:51 - Sheppard, Assists - J Greener, Waller (shorthanded), Slough 35:21 - Davies, Assist - Pliskauskas
Third Period
After what I can only assume was a rollocking from Sir Tony in the break, Phoenix finally pulled their fingers out in the third period and got a grasp of the game. With the help of Wardell (good God, did I really say that!) Phoenix went on a 5 on 3 power play and at 44:37 Duggan found the back of the net and finally got Phoenix off the mark. At 45:54, after Calder was sent to the box for hooking, Spelda fired a rocket from the blue line which there was no stopping and gave us Phoenix fans some hope that a come back was on the cards. Phoenix continued to dominate the rest of the period and at bang on 49 minutes, Koulikov got his name on the score card following some help from Faith and Spelda. Unfortunately Phoenix were running out of time and the buzzer sounded to signal the end of the game.
At the end of the game Phoenix lost 5-3 after a game that Slough dominated. Phoenix only really seemed to get going in the third period but I have a feeling that if they managed to play like that for the whole of the game (especially during the second period) it would have been a lot closer. Slough did what they needed to do and took advantage of the mistakes made by Phoenix which was enough for them to win the game. One of my friends had brought his uncle and cousin to their first hockey game and I'm hoping that they remember the third period rather than the shambles that was the second period. We can't expect to draw the public in if we can't put on a performance to bring them back to watch again. I'm not expecting us to win every game and Slough are a tough team to beat, with the Greener sisters and Watt getting under everyone's skin (including mine) but I would like to see us put up a fight!
Goals - Phoenix 44:37 - Duggan, Assist - Harabin (powerplay), Phoenix 45:54 - Spelda, Assists - Harabin, Duggan (powerplay), Phoenix 49:00 - Koulikov, Assists - Faith, Spelda
Final Score - Phoenix 3 - Jets 5
MOM - Phoenix - Duggan, Slough - Rockman
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