Captain Boothroyd fires Phoenix 3 points clear

Manchester Phoenix 5-4 Milton Keynes Lightning (After Overtime)

Manchester Phoenix captain Luke Boothroyd completed another stunning weekend for the league leaders this weekend with an overtime winner against the Milton Keynes Lightning.

Phoenix gained another valuable four point weekend with two come from behind victories as they defeated Bracknell Bee’s away on Saturday night before beating a tough Lightning team on Sunday. On both occasions, Phoenix found themselves 4-1 down and they managed to turn both games around to win 5-4.

Tony Hand commented, “At 4-1 down, we could have let our heads drop, but the team simply rolled up their sleeves and gave it their all. That’s two nights on the trot we’ve had to battle back from a deficit, the guys are showing a belief in themselves that as a coach is so pleasing to see.”

Back-up netminder Adam Summerfield continued in goal for both matches and in the third period on Sunday, showed great determination to keep the Phoenix come-back on course.

Goals from Adam Brittle, Michael Farn and Monir Kalgoum (2) had put the visitors firmly in control, with only a lone Adam Walker strike on the board for Phoenix late in the second period. Two strikes in less than thirty seconds from the home side reduced the deficit drastically. Firstly Andre Mattsson fired home on a 5 on 3 powerplay before Adam Walker netted his second goal of the night.

In what was a tight third period, the only goal came on the power-play, the hardworking Jaakko Hagelberg deflecting an Ed Courtenay shot past a helpless Barry Hollyhead in the Lightning net to tie the scores at 4-4 and send the game into overtime.

Both teams received matching penalties in the extra period and the resulting 3 on 3 saw plenty of ice to be used and the Phoenix duly capitalised, Tony Hand and Courtenay setting up Luke Boothroyd down the left wing and his snapped effort flew through Hollyhead to seal a fantastic victory.