Phoenix title down to the wire as Jets fly by.

Manchester Phoenix 4-6 Slough Jets

Tony Hand’s Manchester Phoenix will have to wait until the final weekend of the regular season to lift the EPL title after losing 6-4 to Slough Jets on Thursday.

Phoenix, who bounced back with a 6-5 win against Milton Keynes Lightning on Saturday, need one point from their remaining two games against Peterborough and Swindon.

On Thursday, Phoenix went down against Slough at the Altrincham Ice Dome in a tight game that was only decided in the final minute as the Jets struck an empty net goal.

Goals from Ben Morgan and Tony Hand were countered by strikes by Darius Pliskauskas and Nicky Watt leaving the teams even at the first break.

Morgan again gave Phoenix the lead in the middle session but a mix up between netminder Steve Fone and Pavel Gomeniuk left Shaun Thompson to score shorthanded for the visitors.

Curtis Huppe restored the home sides lead going into the final period but the Jets came out flying in the third period scoring twice through Adam Calder and Pliskauskas before sealing the win with an empty net strike as Phoenix pushed forward.

Player coach Hand said: “We lost concentration at times, and we were punished. We played some great hockey and so did the Jets, but this is a wakeup call to everyone that there is still everything to play for, and we cannot lose focus at this stage of the campaign.”

Phoenix travel to Peterborough on Saturday, where a win would seal the league title before entertaining Swindon Wildcats at home on Sunday in the final regular season game.

Kristoffersson avenges cup defeat with four goals in Bison win

Manchester Phoenix 5-2 Basingstoke Bison

Super Swede Marcus Kristoffersson scored four times on Sunday against Basingstoke Bison, avenging their recent cup exit whilst strengthening Phoenix’s grasp on the league title.

Phoenix now only need three points to win their first piece of major silverware since they were born out of the ashes of Manchester Storm in 2003.

Bison, who eliminated Phoenix in the EPL Cup semi final only a couple of weeks ago, took the lead in the first period with a goal from Callum Best in the 11th minute.

But Phoenix came back strong in the middle session scoring four times.

First Kristoffersson levelled the game in the 25th minute with a crash-the-net tap in before blasting a slap shot past Bison netminder Dean Skinns to take the lead.

Curtis Huppe added a third before the Bison replied short-handed thanks to Ciaron Long, tapping in a rebound past a beaten Steve Fone after his original effort hit the post.

However during the same powerplay, Kristoffersson restored Phoenix’s two goal cushion and the Swede struck again with an empty net goal in the final minute.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand said: “That was a huge two points for us. Bison have given us problems all season, and to get two points at this stage was vital.

“We know what we need to do. No-one is counting any chickens – I won’t allow that – but confidence in the locker room is high. We’ll take each game as it comes.”

Phoenix poised for fiery playoff encounter with Sheffield

Sheffield Steeldogs 2-5 Manchester Phoenix

Enforcer Andrew Sharp showed his metal on Sunday night in what could have been a dress rehearsal for Manchester Phoenix’s first round playoff match up.

Sharp dropped the gloves three times with ex-Phoenix hard-man and Sheffield player coach Andre Payette in a fiery encounter.

Phoenix, currently needing seven points to clinch the league title, look likely to play their Yorkshire rivals in the quarterfinals of the playoffs and both teams fired warnings on Sunday.

Sheffield took a 2-0 lead with goals from Lloyd Gibson and Janis Ozolins, but Phoenix, like so many times this season, rose to the challenge.

The champions elect scored five unanswered goals across two periods from Curtis Huppe (2), Tony Hand, Ben Morgan and an empty net goal from Stephen Wallace to seal another important two points.

However with Phoenix needing overtime to beat Sheffield at the Altrincham Ice Dome on their last visit, player coach Tony Hand must be warning his players of the task that awaits them once the playoffs begin in April.

Phoenix continue their march for the title this weekend with an away game at Swindon Wildcats before entertaining Basingstoke Bison on Sunday in Altrincham.

Phoenix close in on first league title.

Manchester Phoenix 6-3 Telford Tigers

Tony Hand’s Manchester Phoenix are one step closer to securing their first league title in their history after back to back wins against bottom club Telford Tigers.

Phoenix secured a four point weekend with a close fought 4-2 win in Telford on Saturday before beating the same side 6-3 in Altrincham on Sunday.

It took until the final two minutes on Saturday for Phoenix to beat a resolute Tigers who pushed the champions elect all the way. Marcus Kristoffersson netted twice in the closing stages to seal the win but it was a different story on Sunday as Phoenix raced into a five goal lead.

Tigers netminder Martin Clarkson produced some early sparkling saves to deny the Phoenix forwards but goals from Kristoffesson, short handed and on the power play, gave Phoenix a 2-0 lead at the break.

Further goals from Stephen Wallace, Greg Wood and Huppe pushed the home side into a 5-0 lead and cruising to another two points.

At this point Phoenix netminder Steve Fone was replaced by Adam Summerfield to get some rare ice time, but the Congelton born shot stopper was beaten three times quickly as the Phoenix defence went to sleep with Tigers’ Daniel Mackriel (2) and Jack Watkins pulling the visitors back into the match.

However, with Fone back in the net for the final period, Kristoffesson netted his fifth of the weekend with a power play goal to kill the Tigers comeback attempt.

Phoenix now need nine points to clinch the EPL title with Tony Hand’s side holding an eight point lead over second place Guildford Flames.

Player coach Hand said: “I knew we had a tough, tough period coming from the end of January. There have been a lot of high-pressure games, one after another, and it’s taken its toll. The guys are understandably tired.

“But we’re through it and we’re still top. We can have a good rest now, with no game until next Sunday at Sheffield, when we can come back refreshed and focused on the final run-in.”

Sidney Crosby meets Bobby Clarke

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.

Phoenix hold off Lightning fight back

Manchester Phoenix 5-4 Milton Keynes Lightning

Netminder Steve Fone kept league leading Manchester Phoenix six points clear at the top of the English Premier League after a match winning performance between the pipes.

Rotherham born Fone dazzled, especially in the second period, to keep the Lightning at bay until a late surge in the final 15 minutes left the home side clinging on as their lead evaporated.

Goals from Tony Hand and Curtis Huppe gave Phoenix a 2-0 lead at the first break before Huppe and Marcus Kristoffersson added further goals in a second period that for the most part was played in the Phoenix zone as the Lightning laid siege to Steve Fone’s goal. But their efforts proved fruitless as Fone stood tall to keep the visitors score blank.

James Neil increased the home sides lead to 5-0 early in the final period before Milton Keynes seized upon Phoenix easing off the gas. The fight back began with ex-Slough Jets forward Blaz Emersic netting which was quickly followed by a power play goal from Monir Kalgoum.

Adam Carr then capitalized on some lazy Phoenix defending before scoring a penalty shot with four minutes remaining. However an exhausted Phoenix defence managed to keep the visitors from tying the game late and Tony Hand’s side held on for two more vital points.

Phoenix player coach Hand said: “That was tough tonight. Some of the guys were tired, and there were times when we let our concentration lapse and we were punished for it.

“We deserved to be in front, but credit to Milton Keynes, they never gave up and it was a lot closer than it could have been.