Manchester Phoenix 5 Guildford Flames 6 (after OT and pens)

Manchester Phoenix and Guildford Flames served up a goalfest on Sunday night, but Phoenix missed out on both points after a penalty shootout.

Phoenix came into the game on the back of a superb away win at Bracknell Bees on Saturday. Despite being 3-0 down at the end of the first period, Manchester roared back with eight unanswered goals to win 8-3.

The Flames, determined to bounce back from a heavy Saturday night defeat, took the game to Phoenix right from the start and took the lead on 3.54 with a David Longstaff strike. Guildford kept the pressure on and Stephen Fone was the busier of the two netminders.

The home side were creating chances as well and equalised on 13.28 through Shaun Thompson, who sent a blistering shot high to netminder Greg Rockman’s left shoulder. Guildford continued to look the better team and went into the break 2-1 in the lead, thanks to a Marcus Kristoffersson power play goal.

Guildford again started strongly in the second period and doubled their advantage when Kristoffersson scored on the powerplay at 21.05. Phoenix came more into the game after that goal and Rockman pulled off a number of good saves, but there was nothing he could do on 25.07 as Robin Kovar scored to make it 2-3. Outstanding saves from both netminders ensured that the Flames maintained their one goal lead after 40 minutes.

The third period started with Phoenix getting themselves right back into the game with two goals in the first 46 seconds. James Archer made it 3-3 with a powerplay goal on 40.26 and Frankie Bakrlik continued his hot streak with the go ahead goal just 20 seconds later to raise the roof. Guildford, however, desperate to gain ground on league leaders Telford Tigers, scored two quick goals of their own to re-take the lead. Ben Campbell made it 4-4 on 44.08 and two minutes later Marcus Kristoffersson scored his third of the night and Flames’ fifth to put his side 5-4 in front.

However, Phoenix resilience came through again and they threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Guildford net and got their reward on 53.13 with a Tony Hand power play goal. With no goals in overtime the game went into penalty shots.

Adam Walker, Frankie Bakrlik and Shaun Thompson all missed for Phoenix, as did David Longstaff and Josef Kohut for Guildford, leaving new Flames import Vladimir Kutny to score the winning shot to give them the extra point.