Frustration for phoenix after back to back defeats

Manchester Phoenix were left waiting for their first home win of the season after losing yet another thrilling encounter with Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday.

Phoenix came into the game on the back of a 3-2 defeat away at Basingstoke Bison on Saturday. Despite taking the lead after just 21 seconds through Robin Kovar and adding a late second through Michal Psurny, Bison were clinical when chances came their way and Phoenix missed out on the points. Phoenix’ cause was not helped by losing three import players on the night – Johan Burlin and Frantisek Bakrlik to injuries and Kovar to a game misconduct.

Bakrlik remained absent for Sunday’s game against Sheffield, and Phoenix started strongly, eager to avenge the pre-season 6-1 drubbing handed out by Sheffield. It was Kovar who pounced early for the second night running, giving Phoenix a deserved lead after just three minutes of pressure.

Five manic minutes changed the game completely. Steeldogs were level just over a minute later when Lloyd Gibson found the net after good work by Craig Elliot and Ashley Calvert. Just over 30 seconds later Sheffield had the lead with a truly great effort by Jeff Legue, who was allowed to skate almost the length of the ice before taking the puck through the Phoenix defence, around the back of the net and whipping in a classic wraparound goal Gibson struck again on eight minutes with his second of the night and a third for Sheffield, leaving the home crowd shell-shocked. Phoenix hit back 30 seconds later with a superb Jack Watkins strike, but within four minutes the two goal margin was back when Legue found himself virtually alone in front of goal and lashed his second past Declan Ryan in the Phoenix net for a 4-2 score line after 20 minutes.

Phoenix dominated a goalless second period, outshooting Sheffield by 19 to six, but they were unable to find a way through a well-drilled Sheffield defence – even with a full two minutes of 5-on-3 power play - and when chances did present themselves, Steeldogs’ goalie Dalibor Sedlar was in excellent form.

Tony Hand pulled back a vital goal just one minute into the final period, but Steeldogs delivered a hammer blow eight minutes from the end when man of the match Legue pounced during a lax power play and expertly dispatched a short-handed fifth for Sheffield.

A fourth Phoenix goal scored by Adam Walker 17 seconds later set up a grandstand finish, but as Phoenix pressed hard for the equaliser and pulled goalie Declan Ryan for the extra out skater, Lubomir Korhon dispossessed Michal Psurny and sent the puck into the empty net with just nine seconds left to secure a 6-4 win.

Phoenix coach Tony Hand said: “I thought we played well for most of the game and dominated the second period. There are things we need to sort by next weekend, but also a few points that will give us encouragement.”