Jets end Phoenix title hopes

Manchester Phoenix 2-5 Slough Jets

Slough sniper Darius Pliskauskas netted a hat-trick on Sunday night to end Manchester Phoenix’s hopes of retaining their English Premier League crown.

Phoenix went down on back to back nights for the first time since December as they lost 2-1 in Sheffield on Saturday whilst league leaders Guildford beat Basingstoke to clinch the title on Sunday.

Tony Hand’s side, who still haven’t completed a single game this season with a full squad through injuries, went behind to a controversial opener from the visitors as the Jets took the lead whilst Phoenix’s Slava Koulikov was down injured on the ice.

Slough doubled their lead on the power-play before the first break through Aaron Connolly but Jaroslav Spelda struck early in the second period to cut the deficit in half.

Phoenix however were struggling to create clear chances against a resilient Slough defence and they went behind further as Pliskauskus beat Manchester netminder Steve Fone twice early in the third period.

Juraj Faith scored on the power-play for the home side with just under five minutes remaining but Pliskauskas sealed the win for the visitors with his hat-trick strike just seconds later.

Hand said “That was a tough defeat to take. Slough caught us cold from the start and we were always chasing the game from then on.

“It’s sad to have to relinquish the title, but congratulations to Guildford Flames. We’ll regroup and focus our efforts on building a strong momentum going into the playoffs.”

Phoenix double up Tigers

Manchester Phoenix 4-2 Telford Tigers

Forward Stephen Wallace broke a 2-2 tie early in the final period and Juraj Faith added an empty net goal to help lead Manchester Phoenix past Telford on Saturday.

Phoenix, still hopeful of catching league leaders Guildford, beat the Tigers 4-3 away on Sunday as well for a maximum points weekend.

On Saturday, Tom Duggan rang a shot off the cross bar and then hit the post before player coach Tony Hand finally opened the scoring in the 13th minute to give Phoenix the lead at the first interval.

But Telford drew level early in the second period through Josh Henry before
Ciaran Long restored the home sides lead once more in the 36th minute.

Phoenix captain Luke Boothroyd’s bad pass in his own zone gifted the Tigers an equalizer through Scott McKenzie which sent the sides into the second break all square.

Wallace scored the game winner in the 44th minute as the puck slid under a clawing Tigers netminder Declan Ryan before Faith added an empty net goal with a second left on the clock.

Phoenix now lie six points behind leaders Guildford with six games left whilst they have a four point cushion over third placed Sheffield.

Hand said after the game: “All credit to Telford they worked hard all night and made things difficult for us. I thought we lost a very soft goal to make it 2-2 but we took control in the third to take the points.”

Hand returns to boost Phoenix past Cats

Manchester Phoenix 6-5 Swindon Wildcats (After Overtime)

Player coach Tony Hand returned to line up on Sunday night and helped propel Manchester Phoenix past Swindon in overtime.

Hand had been out with an ankle injury since November but lead a Phoenix third period comeback with three assists after his side trailed 5-3 at the second break.

Phoenix, who went down 6-3 in Swindon the previous night, went behind after only 20 seconds on Sunday when Aaron Nell ripped a shot past Manchester netminder Steve Fone.

But goals from Tom Duggan and James Archer put Phoenix in front at the first break before a disastrous middle period put the home side in a hole.

Swindon struck four times through Nell (2), Michal Pinc and Lee Richardson whilst the only response from the home side came from Stephen Wallace leaving Phoenix with everything to do in the third period.

Phoenix were level within five minutes of the restart as Hand provided back to back assists on two goals from Jaroslav Spelda and the teams went to overtime where Phoenix captain Luke Boothroyd scored with a speculative shot from the half way line to secure the extra point.

Hand said after the game: “We were off the pace this weekend and we were punished. We needed a big slice of luck to take the points from this game and we got it, but we can’t rely on that.

“We’ll regroup ready for our double header against Telford next weekend.”