Phoenix playoff run ended in OT by Lightning.

Quarter final:
Manchester Phoenix 4-2 Sheffield Steeldogs (Agg 10-4)
Semi final:
Manchester Phoenix 2-3 Milton Keynes Lightning (OT)

After winning the English Premier League title last week, Manchester Phoenix will be looking for more silverware this weekend at the Playoff Finals.

Phoenix beat rivals Sheffield Steeldogs convincingly over two legs last weekend in the playoff quarterfinals and now face Milton Keynes Lightning in the semi-final on Saturday.

Tony Hand’s side left Yorkshire on Saturday with a 6-2 win and the league champions sealed their Coventry berth with a comfortable 4-2 win in Altrincham the following night.

In their final home game of the season, Phoenix took an early two goal lead thanks to strikes from Hand and James Archer giving the home side a six goal cushion on aggregate.

Hand, feeling his side had done enough, didn’t ice for the remainder of the game, resting up for the weekend ahead.

Similarly Marcus Kristoffersson took the opportunity to watch from the stands after a goalless second period, which also saw back up netminder Adam Summerfield replace Steve Fone in the Manchester net.

Sheffield pulled a goal back in the 42nd minute through Chris Sykes, but Curtis Huppe and Stephen Wallace increased the lead to 4-1 before ex-Phoenix defenceman Ryan Johnson netted a late consolation.

The other semi-final will be between Guildford and Peterborough with the Playoff Final taking place on Sunday at the Coventry Sky Dome.

On Saturday, Tony Hand’s Manchester Phoenix went down fighting as a late comeback was not enough to beat Milton Keynes Lightning.

With Phoenix seemingly dead and buried losing 2-0 in their playoff semi final match, the EPL champions staged a remarkable fight back scoring twice in the final minute to send the game to overtime.

After a scoreless opening period at the season finale event in Coventry, it was the Lightning that broke the deadlock with a goal from Matt Towalski in the 31st minute.

That was quickly followed by a goal from Adam Brittle to give the Lightning a two goal lead going into the final period.

But with Phoenix looking like they would be shut-out by a hard working Lightning defence, Pavel Gomeniuk struck on the powerplay in the 59th minute and then player coach Hand netted seconds later to send the travelling fans into a frenzy.

However after pulling the game level, Leigh Jamieson destroyed any hopes of Phoenix progressing to the final when he struck the winner for the Lightning with 19 seconds of overtime remaining.

The final on Sunday was won by Guildford Flames as they ran out 5-3 winners over the Lightning with a Martin Masa penalty shot goal in the third period being the game winner.