Huppe helps Phoenix put cup exit behind them

Manchester Phoenix 6-5 Peterborough Phantoms (After Overtime)

Canadian sniper Curtis Huppe scored five times against Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday, leading Manchester Phoenix to a 6-5 win in overtime.

The unstoppable Phoenix top line of player coach Tony Hand, Swede Marcus Kristoffersson and Huppe combined for 17 points and the home side put their cup exit on Thursday behind them.

After six games in nine nights, Phoenix could have been forgiven if they had lost to a spirited Phantoms side, but the home side fought back after going behind twice whilst also surrendering a two goal lead themselves.

Maris Ziedins opened the scoring for the visitors in the 7th minute and Phoenix’s James Archer struck the post shorthanded before Huppe netted twice before the break.

Huppe and Phantoms’ Matt Davies traded goals in the second period and Tom Carlon scored shorthanded to tie the score at 3-3. The Phoenix top line clicked again in the 35th minute with Huppe scoring his fourth but again the Phantoms levelled through Jeff Glowa.

Phantoms’ Darius Lelenas and Huppe, again, traded goals in the third period sending the game to overtime. Phoenix capitalized on a 5 on 3 power-play to win the match in the extra period when Kristoffersson deflected a Huppe shot past Phantoms’ Stephen Wall.

On Thursday night, Phoenix crashed out of the EPL Cup after losing 6-4 (8-7 agg) to Basingstoke Bison in the semi final.

After coming away from Basingstoke with a 3-2 first leg lead on Tuesday night, hopes were high that Phoenix would progress to the final against either Slough or Guildford.

But Victor Kubenko erased the deficit early before Callum Best gave the visitors the lead on aggregate and they never looked back. Curtis Huppe, Stephen Wallace, Joe Miller and Tony Hand scored for Phoenix whilst Ondrej Lauko (2), Mindaugas Kieras, Ollie Bronnimann netted for Bison to see them reach the Final and knock Phoenix out.

Phoenix are away at Peterborough on Wednesday 23 Feb before a Saturday/Sunday double header against bottom club Telford Tigers.