Fone keeps Phoenix flying

Manchester Phoenix 4-1 Guildford Flames

Netminder Steve Fone produced a stellar performance against the league leading Guildford Flames on Saturday night to extend Manchester Phoenix’s hot streak to nine games.

Fone kept his cool during wave after wave of Guildford pressure during the second period and stopped 39 of 40 shots in total that the visitors fired his way.

Ben Wood opened the scoring for Phoenix early in the first period and his strike was added to by Ladislav Harabin, who blasted a slap shot past Mark Lee in the Flames net on the powerplay before the first break.

Tony Hand’s team had Fone to thank after a goal-less middle period in which Guildford took the game to the home side but were unable to find the net.

Phoenix converted their third goal in the first minute of the third period with Juraj Faith finding the net and Slava Koulikov added Phoenix’s fourth shortly after to end the contest.

Guildford finally found a way past Fone with less than five minutes remaining with a late consolation goal to end the shut-out attempt.

Phoenix coach Tony Hand said: “This was a massive win for us, and the guys thoroughly deserved it.

“Everyone played their part in a superb performance. We created chances and we took them, and we kept our heads when we were under pressure, which we knew we would be against a team like Flames.”