Following Saturday's stunning 3-2 away win at league title-chasing Coventry Blaze, Manchester Phoenix earned a valuable point from Sundays' dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout loss to the Cardiff Devils and, with Hull and Edinburgh both losing, Phoenix now need just one more point from their seven remaining games to be guaranteed a berth in the post-season playoffs.

Phoenix travelled to the Skydome on Saturday knowing that a win or a draw would enhance their chances of ensuring post-season qualification.

Derek Campbell got the Phoenix on the scoreboard first in the 8th minute with a excellently taken goal after great work by linemates KC Timmons and Brett Clouthier created the shooting opportunity. Blaze responded immediately with Reid Simonton equalising just 25 seconds later. Phoenix defended well in a first period that saw them outshot 13-8, and the tied score at the first break was fully deserved.

Phoenix regained the lead in the 27th minute on a powerplay as Radoslav Hecl found Tony Hand and the canny Scot delayed momentarily to pick his spot with a superb rising shot off the right wing. The second period saw some excellent hockey from both sides as they matched each other throughout the session and both goalies made some key saves and Phoenix having a narrow escape when a blast from Adam Calder hit a post.

With Phoenix on an early powerplay in the third period, Trevor Koenig in the home goal produced a stunning save to deny Johan Molin what seemed a certain goal. Blaze upped their work rate and began to dominate possession, but Jason Wolfe in the Phoenix net made a string of top quality saves. In the 54th minute, Phoenix looked to have secured the points when Derek Campbell was left all alone to grab his second goal of the game and give the visitors a two-goal lead. Coventry again responded quickly as inside a minute they reduced the arrears as Calder made it a one-goal game with a rising shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar. Blaze pulled their goalie with a minute left to play, but the resolute Phoenix defence kept them at bay to earn a hard-fought and well-deserved victory.

Phoenix netminder Jason Wolfe said: "That was a tough one as they never stop coming at you. They drive hard to the net and the shots keep on coming. We worked hard tonight and got what we deserved, we've been in every game we've played here this year, so it's nice to take something away from Skydome."

On the back of Saturdays' terrific win, Phoenix came out hard against the Devils and opened the scoring in the 4th minute as top scorer Johan Molin blasted them ahead on the games first powerplay. Cardiff hit back and had the better of the possession in fast and entertaining first period despite losing sniper Mark Smith with a badly cut lip.

Smith returned for the visitors at the start of the second period and four minutes in, Dave Iannazzo fired a right wing shot past Jason Wolfe with the Phoenix goalie screened and unsighted to tie the score at one-one. The end-to-end play continued to unfold and at the end of the period, the game was poised on a knife-edge.

Phoenix again gained the upper hand on the scoreboard in the 45th minute as Anthony Battaglia swept home his first goal since signing last week. Despite playing their fourth game in five nights, Phoenix kept their work rate high only for Cardiff to equalise in somewhat freak fashion as Brad Voth fired a long range shot from the right wing that caught Jason Wolfe unawares in the 53rd minute.

Neither side could force a winner in the remaining regulation time or the resulting five-minute sudden death overtime period and the drama continued into a penalty shootout. Mark Smith, who had earlier sustained a badly cut lip, fired home the winner for the Devils, but the point from the regulation time tie sees Phoenix within touching distance of the post-season playoff berth.

Phoenix coach Tony Hand said: "My guys have performed superbly these last four games and we deserve to make the playoffs. There are still seven games to play in the regular season and the results from those will determine exactly where we finish and more importantly, who we'll play in the quarterfinal draw."

Phoenix have a home double-header on Wednesday and Thursday against the bottom of the table Edinburgh Capitals - both these games face-off at 7.00pm. Tickets for both games will be available on the door.