Going into this game Phoenix were on a massive winning streak which was really helping our chances (dare I say it) at retaining the title. If we beat MK tonight this would be the 8th win on the bounce and it was giving the team a real boost of confidence. Fone was looking great in net and the forwards were managing to find the back of the net. The defence was still a bit hit and miss but with Fone holding the fort I was very confident that this game was going to be another win for Phoenix. However, MK are never an easy side to beat, I imagine that they will be looking to break our winning streak and that there will be plenty of goals in this game. Phoenix were (for once) only without one player through injury, Hand was still doing his coaching from the bench due to his broken ankle.
First Period
Phoenix started the game well and were creating chances early on. With just under a minute gone Wallace found the metal work but the Phoenix fans didn't have to wait long for the first goal of the game. At 1:36 Duggan controlled the puck well, turned in front of Mettam and shot the puck into the bottom left hand corner for Phoenix to take the lead. Following this MK fought back and at 2:51, Carr scored unassisted due to the lack of a Phoenix defence to tie the game. Despite this Phoenix continued to create chances including a great pass from Harabin to Cingel who nearly managed to get the puck past Mettam. At 5:55, the first penalty of the game was called and Brittle went to the box for hooking but Phoenix were unable to take the lead and the powerplay ended. At 11:18, Phoenix got a second chance on the powerplay when Zatopek was called for roughing but yet again Phoenix were unable to take advantage. After two powerplay chances for Phoenix it took for a penalty to be called on Phoenix for us to take the lead (there's the easy way or the Phoenix way!) at 14:45 Ward took a seat for slashing and shorty after Cingel broke away who made a cracking pass to Duggan who slotted the puck home.
Going into the break Phoenix were 2-1 up and were dominating the game. Phoenix had created some great play, the passes were reaching the players they were meant to go to, we were shooting the puck and our play had quickened up. However we always start our games well but it normally all goes horribly wrong in the second. MK will want to level the game as there was only one goal in it and I can see it happening. Yes we were playing well but if there is a mistake in the defence, MK will take advantage and despite how well Fone is playing at the moment, he can't save everything all the time! Fingers crossed for a good second period.
Goals - Phoenix 1:36 - Duggan, Assists - Archer, Wallace, MK 2:51 - Carr (unassisted), Phoenix 16:43 - Duggan, Assists - Cingel, Neil (shorthanded)
Second Period
MK came out fighting for the second (why do they always do that?) and Fone didn't have to wait long before a shot was made on goal. MK managed to break away but Fone made a great save to stop MK from tieing the game. At 24:14, Harabin was called for tripping and MK took advantage of the powerplay and at 25:04, Gracik fired a shot over Fone's head, Fone made a diving save to try and save it but was just a tad too late and the puck hit the back of the net. Shortly after this the referee started to have a bit of a mare and Zatopek (who has got away with quite a lot this game) cross checked Harabin in front of the MK net and nothing was called. Luckily this didn't phase Phoenix and at 29:25 they extended their lead following some great passing from Koulikov and Cingel, the puck found Faith who fed the puck into the back of the net. MK managed to score a very controversial goal (so controversial that I missed the time of the goal) there was a high stick from Wales in front of Fone's net which was obviously not called and McPherson was there to slot the puck into the back of the net. It should never have been a goal and Wales should have been called for high sticking. I think that the referee was watching a completely different play of game as it was so blatantly obvious even I called it from my seat! The referee then continued to put most of the Phoenix players in the box from this point onwards. At 33:55, Harabin was called for charging and at 36:17, Spelda was called for roughing. The next call was the most ridiculous call I have ever seen (maybe worse than some of Wardell's!) Harabin had been working for the puck behind the Phoenix net and somehow managed to end up on the ice with the puck underneath him (possibly a cross check) the MK player who he was fighting for the puck with decided to hold Harabin down on the puck so that the whistle was called. Apparently this was a delay of game call against Harabin!!! Yes, Mr Boardman because he was asking the MK player to hold him down on the ice, you numpty! Despite being down 5 on 3 for nearly two minutes without our two import defencemen, Phoenix held strong and killed the penalties. At 39:20, after possibly the longest delay in the world and a discussion with the Phoenix players, Boardman finally made a call against Farn for delay of game.
Well the second period was full of controversy rather than decent hockey play. MK had found their chippy little selves and managed to get away with a few calls, Phoenix seemed to do nothing and ended up in the box more often than Payette does on his own! Granted MK's second goal was a good goal, Fone was unlucky not to save it though but MK's third goal should not have happened and Wales should have been put in the box instead. Despite Boardman taking MK's side for the whole period, Phoenix were still looking strong and were storming the MK net, it was just unfortunate that every time they managed to get the puck in the MK zone, Boardman would call his whistle for just wearing red and white and were unable to take advantage of their hard work. I still think that we have this one in the bag though, couple of early goals in the third and it will be 8 wins in a row!
Goals - MK 25:04 - Gracik, Assists - Jamieson, Emersic (powerplay), Phoenix 29:25 - Faith, Assists - Koulikov, Cingel, MK (missed time) - McPherson, Assist - Wales
Third Period
Phoenix definitely looked like they wanted to win this one when they came out for the third. They started creating early chances again, Harabin made a great breakaway, his shot was saved and he then attempted a shot on the rebound which just missed the net. Shortly after this Wallace took a puck to his ankle (makes me nervous after what happened to Hand) and limped off to the bench, luckily he did make a return though and seemed to be ok. At 34:35 things started looking up for Phoenix, when Wood managed a shot on the MK goal which went through Mettam's five hole and to much of his surprise (and the fans) into the back of the net for Phoenix to take the lead. At 47:19, Towalski was called for holding the stick and Phoenix took advantage of the extra man (yes, we scored on the powerplay!) at 47:19 the puck found Spelda on the blue line who fired a rocket past Mettam which nearly went clean through the netting! At 49:15 Zatopek was called for hooking and Phoenix went on the powerplay again. Shortly after this McPherson started kicking off for some unbeknown reason, I'm assuming it was only because Hand wasn't on the ice to floor him, it didn't last too long and the crowd starting chanting "you got beat by an old aged pensioner" at him (we will never let him forget that!) Anyway back to the powerplay and yes you guessed it we managed yet another powerplay goal, this time Harabin fired a rocket from the blue line that Mettam didn't have a chance to stop and gave Phoenix a three goal lead. With 8:31 left on the clock MK called a time out to try and compose themselves but unfortunately the only thing that happened was a last minute tripping call against Duggan at 54:06 and the clock ticked down to mark Phoenix's 8th win on the row
So at the end of the game Phoenix beat MK 6-3 and got a throughly deserved win. Phoenix really impressed me tonight and after a few overtime wins at home it's nice to win one in regulation for once! I thought that our passing was really good tonight, ok there were a few loose pucks occasionally but they were getting to the man which quickened up our pace, there was no dumping the puck in the MK zone and watching our breakaways was really freshening and so much better than watching the opposition do it all the time to us. All the team seemed to be working hard and the passion was starting to show a lot more. Not that I am saying they didn't have it before it, it's just that things are working a lot better now. MK just didn't seem to have the pace tonight and at times we ran rings around them. I am loving this whole powerplay goal thing and letting the d-men shoot always gives us something to cheer about when the rockets go into the back of the net. Phoenix have a massive weekend next week when we play Guildford at home and away. I am going to be a nervous wreck next Saturday but if Telford can do it, we can definitely do it!
Goals - Phoenix 44:35 - Wood, Assists - Johnson, Ward, Phoenix 47:55 - Spelda, Assists - Boothroyd, Koulikov (powerplay), Phoenix 51:29 - Harabin, Assist - Duggan (powerplay)
Final Score - Phoenix 6 - MK - 3
MOM - Phoenix - Boothroyd - MK - Gracik
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