MANCHESTER PHOENIX 7-2 BRACKNELL BEES (PHOENIX WIN AGG:10-6 )
"Que sera sera, whatever will be will be, were going to Coventry! Que sera sera" That was the lasting sounds of the Ice dome in Altrincham Sunday night as Manchester Phoenix booked their place at Coventry Sky dome arena next weekend with a 7-2 win over the Bracknell Bees in a slightly bad tempered game.
The Phoenix were trailing 4-3 from the first leg down at the Hive in Berkshire, So Manchester knew a early goal would help them as they needed a good start to try and settle the nervous a bit. Manchester was by reports not that great in the first leg so they wanted to make amends for the poor performance the night before at Bracknell. Phoenix was behind in the tie all game as they drew level 3 times only for the Bees to score the go ahead goal every time. So as we rolled onto Sunday evening it was expected to be a rough, physical playoff game and it was!
FIRST PERIOD
Game started off with referee Andy Miller dropping the puck and so the Second leg was off, Phoenix dominated the game as they had most of the play and tested Tom Annetts in the Bees net early as they were pushing hard for the early goal. Annetts wasn`t playing that well as he looked quite nervous as when tried to freeze the puck he was scrambling and pushing it away and had the luck of the defensemen to help him cover up. Bracknell was putting the heavy hits on the Phoenix players but equally so were Phoenix as the early stages shown to be real Playoff game.
The over physical play was clamped down a lot by the referee as he was trying to keep it a physical game without stepping over the line. Bracknell went on the penalty kill after Sam Oakfield was given 2 minutes for SLASHING at 4:30, Phoenix had a normal power play for them as they resorted to a dump and chase method. Only problem was the dumping of the puck was done too far away and by the time the puck was in the Bees zone they had collected it and shot it down the other end by time the Phoenix player was nearby.
Bees were in penalty trouble again as James Galazzi stopped the dashing Tom Duggan as he entered the zone and a leg came out and tripped up the Phoenix dynamo that timed at 8-34 for TRIPPING, Phoenix power play was a lot more better as the 2nd line made a lot of movement and dragged the Bees defensemen out of position like you should and had a few good chances, Annetts was keeping the puck out and normally the attacking team gets frustrated. However they weren`t they seemed more determined and when Jan Bendik was put in the box for CLIPPING after bringing down Liam Chong at 10-24.
Pavel Strycek was the 3rd Bees player in as many minutes to be penalised by Referee Miller at 11-50 for CROSS CHECKS and the resulting power play finally brought a goal as Joachim Flaten scored from a great pass by Tony Hand as his pass from the side of the net resulted in the Norwegian forward putting home for 1-0 on the night 4-4 overall, with Luke Boothroyd getting an assist on the power play goal. At 12-33.
Phoenix had chance upon chance to score more goals but them weren`t finding the target or the shots weren`t clinical finishes. Bracknell was coming into the game more as they were trying to play hockey but often than not they resorted to what brought them where they are physical play bordering on the line and score on the breakaways. Phoenix defensively was very solid and looked comfortable at the back nearly all game, there was times when they had Phoenix scrambling around when the Bees was round the net. Bracknell were pushing for the goal to retake the lead in the tie again and they were getting more possession but making it count. However Phoenix broke off down the ice and with time running down Hand found Michal Psurny his pass went to Joachim Flaten and after his first effort was blocked he made no mistake with his second effort and put it low in the corner for a 2-0 lead with 2 seconds on the board at 19-58, The Phoenix players had huge smiles on their collective faces even the player coach was grinning.
Phoenix were the only hockey side in the period as Bees were resorting to over physical play which cost them penalties but it`s a tactic they use and it`s got them to the Playoffs so not popular but if it works for you keep at it.
Second Period
Alan Lack was sent to the box at 26-08 for ROUGHING for some roughness in the Bees zone in the corner, Phoenix scored off the penalty as it was a brilliant solo goal by the towering Czech Rob Schnabel as he skated from one end to another gliding past the Bees like nothing and left a lovely wrist shot go and beat the net minder for a 3-0 lead and (6-4 lead). The goal was assisted by James Archer at 27-27. Then we saw a embarrassing attempt at trying to draw a penalty as Scott Spearing purposely skated into Fone moving the net off the mooring and was can be best described as a faint push led to the Bracknell player looking rather foolish and going down on the ice as James Neil just seem to do a defenseman job if you touch the net minder, More taps than anything and Everyone looked embarrassed at the display as the ref looked on as he gave him a look of "are you finished?"
Then we had the big flashpoint of the game. Play was whistled as Fone froze the puck and then that man again Scott Spearing was trying anything to spark his team so he gave a few checks at Ondrej Pozivil who originally just laughed at him as Spearing was giving harder pushes in his chest as he was trying to draw him into a fight or at the very least a penalty. Spearing was loosening his gloves as the linesmen came in then one linesmen stepped away allowing Spearing to continue the baiting Pozivil looked to be heading to the bench then turned fully round to face Spearing and threw a head butt his way.
After all that commotion we got back to normality or hockey at least and Andy McKinney scored to make it 4-0 at 29-58 and the heads of Bracknell had dropped and seemed like the way they played or wasn`t allowed to given the controlled officiating they wasn`t getting away with much as Phoenix was wanting to concentrate on hockey as when Phoenix face tactics of being bullied off the puck they have focused on the hockey and let the opponents take the penalties and this was much the same as them games. The Bees were getting frustrated at everything as they couldn`t find a way score past Fone and were leaking them in at the back.
Then Martin Masa went to the box for HOOKING at 31-51 as he brought down a Manchester so seemed to be through on goal but referee just gave a penalty instead. Phoenix couldn`t make anything of it this time around. Bracknell had the puck and as they were getting very aggressive in the Phoenix zone as the puck was thrown around the crease Schnabel tripped up a Bee and so Bracknell played 30 seconds or so with the extra man as they were had a delayed penalty coming. Eventually Schnabel touched the puck and sat for 2 for TRIPPING at 32-51. Right near the end of the penalty on Phoenix, Bracknell had possession of the puck and was on the attack when the puck came to one player by the team bench and Bracknell had about 6 or 7 players on the ice at one time which drew loud shouts from the players, the bench and stands of "TOO MANY MEN” and so the linesman signalled too many men so they picked up the bench minor at 34-10.
Period came to a close as the game seemed to be over already, however everyone said that of the Telford game so they had to be switched on for the whole 20 minutes to progress.
Third Period
Martin Masa tried to replicate the Schnabel goal for Bracknell shortly into the final stanza as he broke away from 2 players and was tripped up by Boothroyd as he was heading into the Phoenix zone so he sat for TRIPPING that coming at 41-40, Resulting in a power goal for the Bees as Lukas Smital and Jan Bendik moved play a Bendik shot was tipped in at close range by Ollie Bronnimann at the front of the net to make it 4-1 (8-5) overall.
Bracknell found them in more penalty trouble as this time it was Pavel Strycek who was called for HOLDING THE STICK at 42-18. Phoenix had a lot of chances but wasn`t finding twine on the power plays. Moments after the Bees killed it off Phoenix scored their 5th of the night as a Rocket from the blue line off Schnabel when in assisted by Andy McKinney at 45-28 and with the overall score at 9-5 the contest was all but over.
James Archer was then sent to the box for HIGH STICKS thought his stick never came up Roughing was more likely to be called as his glove came up, but the ref gave it as high sticks at 48-53 and again Bees took advantage as from the faceoff Bees got the puck after Phoenix player coach felt he was tripped as he was down lifted his arms for the call which never came and Smital shot it past Fone for a 5-2 score line and Hand was incensed the goal counted as he felt he was impeded on the play by Smital who scored the goal.
Less than a minute later Andy Munroe was called for INTERFERENCE at 50-21 and Phoenix scored from the power play as Captain Luke Boothroyd slap shot went over the shoulder of Annetts in goal as it seemed to hit something on the way as it looked like something from a Mighty ducks film, Tony Hand and Michal Psurny picked up assists on the goal clocked at 51-10. The final 5 minutes seemed to be played at a slower pace but still had time for Lukas Smital to Cross Check a Phoenix player in the back and to the ice which Referee called and Smital then shoulder barged Miller over the call. He refused to go to the box until he spoke to the ref as he tried to dodge out of the way of the linesmen blocking the player from the ref.
He continued to argue and so picked up a 10 minute MISCONDUCT penalty along with a CROSS CHECKS call to at 56-20. Phoenix finished the scoring as Andy McKinney scored unassisted at 57-04 and so led the chants of "Que Sera sera” around the rink from the Phoenix faithful as they booked their place in the Semi finals against the Basingstoke Bison next Saturday night. So Manchester signed off their season in front of their home crowd with a win and hopefully can capture silverware in the Coventry Sky dome.
.
Overall great team performance by Manchester only sour note was the Pozivil incident but they head down to Coventry next weekend for the EPL FINALS weekend alongside Basingstoke who they meet Saturday evening , the Milton Keynes Lightning and the Double winner this year and hoping to make it a grand slam the Guildford Flames.
STATS:
SHOTS ON GOAL:
PHOENIX: 28 shots on Steve Fone (Save percentage 92.86%)
PENALTY IN MINUTES:
PHOENIX: 18 PIMS BEES: 42 PIMS
MANCHESTER PHOENIX 7-2 BRACKNELL BEES (PHOENIX WIN AGG:10-6 )
"Que sera sera, whatever will be will be, were going to Coventry! Que sera sera" That was the lasting sounds of the Ice dome in Altrincham Sunday night as Manchester Phoenix booked their place at Coventry Sky dome arena next weekend with a 7-2 win over the Bracknell Bees in a slightly bad tempered game.
The Phoenix were trailing 4-3 from the first leg down at the Hive in Berkshire, So Manchester knew a early goal would help them as they needed a good start to try and settle the nervous a bit. Manchester was by reports not that great in the first leg so they wanted to make amends for the poor performance the night before at Bracknell. Phoenix was behind in the tie all game as they drew level 3 times only for the Bees to score the go ahead goal every time. So as we rolled onto Sunday evening it was expected to be a rough, physical playoff game and it was!
FIRST PERIOD
Game started off with referee Andy Miller dropping the puck and so the Second leg was off, Phoenix dominated the game as they had most of the play and tested Tom Annetts in the Bees net early as they were pushing hard for the early goal. Annetts wasn`t playing that well as he looked quite nervous as when tried to freeze the puck he was scrambling and pushing it away and had the luck of the defensemen to help him cover up. Bracknell was putting the heavy hits on the Phoenix players but equally so were Phoenix as the early stages shown to be real Playoff game.
The over physical play was clamped down a lot by the referee as he was trying to keep it a physical game without stepping over the line. Bracknell went on the penalty kill after Sam Oakfield was given 2 minutes for SLASHING at 4:30, Phoenix had a normal power play for them as they resorted to a dump and chase method. Only problem was the dumping of the puck was done too far away and by the time the puck was in the Bees zone they had collected it and shot it down the other end by time the Phoenix player was nearby.
Bracknell successfully killed the penalty off and the hitting and physical play was rising.
Bees were in penalty trouble again as James Galazzi stopped the dashing Tom Duggan as he entered the zone and a leg came out and tripped up the Phoenix dynamo that timed at 8-34 for TRIPPING, Phoenix power play was a lot more better as the 2nd line made a lot of movement and dragged the Bees defensemen out of position like you should and had a few good chances, Annetts was keeping the puck out and normally the attacking team gets frustrated. However they weren`t they seemed more determined and when Jan Bendik was put in the box for CLIPPING after bringing down Liam Chong at 10-24.
Pavel Strycek was the 3rd Bees player in as many minutes to be penalised by Referee Miller at 11-50 for CROSS CHECKS and the resulting power play finally brought a goal as Joachim Flaten scored from a great pass by Tony Hand as his pass from the side of the net resulted in the Norwegian forward putting home for 1-0 on the night 4-4 overall, with Luke Boothroyd getting an assist on the power play goal. At 12-33.
This seemed to sting (no pun intended) Bracknell into action as they had a couple of chances on Steve Fone but the Phoenix goaltender stood up to all shots and looked in good form.
Phoenix had chance upon chance to score more goals but them weren`t finding the target or the shots weren`t clinical finishes. Bracknell was coming into the game more as they were trying to play hockey but often than not they resorted to what brought them where they are physical play bordering on the line and score on the breakaways. Phoenix defensively was very solid and looked comfortable at the back nearly all game, there was times when they had Phoenix scrambling around when the Bees was round the net. Bracknell were pushing for the goal to retake the lead in the tie again and they were getting more possession but making it count. However Phoenix broke off down the ice and with time running down Hand found Michal Psurny his pass went to Joachim Flaten and after his first effort was blocked he made no mistake with his second effort and put it low in the corner for a 2-0 lead with 2 seconds on the board at 19-58, The Phoenix players had huge smiles on their collective faces even the player coach was grinning.
Phoenix were the only hockey side in the period as Bees were resorting to over physical play which cost them penalties but it`s a tactic they use and it`s got them to the Playoffs so not popular but if it works for you keep at it.
Second Period
Alan Lack was sent to the box at 26-08 for ROUGHING for some roughness in the Bees zone in the corner, Phoenix scored off the penalty as it was a brilliant solo goal by the towering Czech Rob Schnabel as he skated from one end to another gliding past the Bees like nothing and left a lovely wrist shot go and beat the net minder for a 3-0 lead and (6-4 lead). The goal was assisted by James Archer at 27-27. Then we saw a embarrassing attempt at trying to draw a penalty as Scott Spearing purposely skated into Fone moving the net off the mooring and was can be best described as a faint push led to the Bracknell player looking rather foolish and going down on the ice as James Neil just seem to do a defenseman job if you touch the net minder, More taps than anything and Everyone looked embarrassed at the display as the ref looked on as he gave him a look of "are you finished?"
Then we had the big flashpoint of the game. Play was whistled as Fone froze the puck and then that man again Scott Spearing was trying anything to spark his team so he gave a few checks at Ondrej Pozivil who originally just laughed at him as Spearing was giving harder pushes in his chest as he was trying to draw him into a fight or at the very least a penalty. Spearing was loosening his gloves as the linesmen came in then one linesmen stepped away allowing Spearing to continue the baiting Pozivil looked to be heading to the bench then turned fully round to face Spearing and threw a head butt his way.
The resulting penalties came out as Spearing got a 2 for ROUGHING and a 10 minute MISCONDUCT penalty and for Phoenix Pozivil got given a 10 + Match for HEADBUTTS all penalties timed at 28-21.
After all that commotion we got back to normality or hockey at least and Andy McKinney scored to make it 4-0 at 29-58 and the heads of Bracknell had dropped and seemed like the way they played or wasn`t allowed to given the controlled officiating they wasn`t getting away with much as Phoenix was wanting to concentrate on hockey as when Phoenix face tactics of being bullied off the puck they have focused on the hockey and let the opponents take the penalties and this was much the same as them games. The Bees were getting frustrated at everything as they couldn`t find a way score past Fone and were leaking them in at the back.
Then Martin Masa went to the box for HOOKING at 31-51 as he brought down a Manchester so seemed to be through on goal but referee just gave a penalty instead. Phoenix couldn`t make anything of it this time around. Bracknell had the puck and as they were getting very aggressive in the Phoenix zone as the puck was thrown around the crease Schnabel tripped up a Bee and so Bracknell played 30 seconds or so with the extra man as they were had a delayed penalty coming. Eventually Schnabel touched the puck and sat for 2 for TRIPPING at 32-51. Right near the end of the penalty on Phoenix, Bracknell had possession of the puck and was on the attack when the puck came to one player by the team bench and Bracknell had about 6 or 7 players on the ice at one time which drew loud shouts from the players, the bench and stands of "TOO MANY MEN” and so the linesman signalled too many men so they picked up the bench minor at 34-10.
Period came to a close as the game seemed to be over already, however everyone said that of the Telford game so they had to be switched on for the whole 20 minutes to progress.
Third Period
Martin Masa tried to replicate the Schnabel goal for Bracknell shortly into the final stanza as he broke away from 2 players and was tripped up by Boothroyd as he was heading into the Phoenix zone so he sat for TRIPPING that coming at 41-40, Resulting in a power goal for the Bees as Lukas Smital and Jan Bendik moved play a Bendik shot was tipped in at close range by Ollie Bronnimann at the front of the net to make it 4-1 (8-5) overall.
Bracknell found them in more penalty trouble as this time it was Pavel Strycek who was called for HOLDING THE STICK at 42-18. Phoenix had a lot of chances but wasn`t finding twine on the power plays. Moments after the Bees killed it off Phoenix scored their 5th of the night as a Rocket from the blue line off Schnabel when in assisted by Andy McKinney at 45-28 and with the overall score at 9-5 the contest was all but over.
James Archer was then sent to the box for HIGH STICKS thought his stick never came up Roughing was more likely to be called as his glove came up, but the ref gave it as high sticks at 48-53 and again Bees took advantage as from the faceoff Bees got the puck after Phoenix player coach felt he was tripped as he was down lifted his arms for the call which never came and Smital shot it past Fone for a 5-2 score line and Hand was incensed the goal counted as he felt he was impeded on the play by Smital who scored the goal.
Less than a minute later Andy Munroe was called for INTERFERENCE at 50-21 and Phoenix scored from the power play as Captain Luke Boothroyd slap shot went over the shoulder of Annetts in goal as it seemed to hit something on the way as it looked like something from a Mighty ducks film, Tony Hand and Michal Psurny picked up assists on the goal clocked at 51-10. The final 5 minutes seemed to be played at a slower pace but still had time for Lukas Smital to Cross Check a Phoenix player in the back and to the ice which Referee called and Smital then shoulder barged Miller over the call. He refused to go to the box until he spoke to the ref as he tried to dodge out of the way of the linesmen blocking the player from the ref.
He continued to argue and so picked up a 10 minute MISCONDUCT penalty along with a CROSS CHECKS call to at 56-20. Phoenix finished the scoring as Andy McKinney scored unassisted at 57-04 and so led the chants of "Que Sera sera” around the rink from the Phoenix faithful as they booked their place in the Semi finals against the Basingstoke Bison next Saturday night. So Manchester signed off their season in front of their home crowd with a win and hopefully can capture silverware in the Coventry Sky dome.
.
Overall great team performance by Manchester only sour note was the Pozivil incident but they head down to Coventry next weekend for the EPL FINALS weekend alongside Basingstoke who they meet Saturday evening , the Milton Keynes Lightning and the Double winner this year and hoping to make it a grand slam the Guildford Flames.
STATS:
SHOTS ON GOAL:
PHOENIX: 28 shots on Steve Fone (Save percentage 92.86%)
BEES: 47 SHOTS on Tom Annetts (85.71%) and 2 on Carl Ambler (85.71%)
PENALTY IN MINUTES:
PHOENIX: 18 PIMS BEES: 42 PIMS
LINKS:
OFFICIAL MANC PODCAST!
No comments:
Post a Comment