This was the first mid-week game of the season (I think) and crikey was it cold! The visit of the Caps saw the Phoenix take to the ice for the second game in five days! As always against the Caps I expect the Phoenix to pick up the two points at home, but the games are never easy ones!
First Period: Good start from the Phoenix saw the home side take the lead after 1min and 5 sec through a Fulgham goal. It was clear from the outset that the Phoenix should win the game. The only un-known was by how many! It took a while for the Phoenix dominance to press home, but at 16min 28seconds Nathan Ward buried the puck into the top right corner!
Second Period: Hmmm the Phoenix either took the foot off the gas or the Caps found their skating boots! The second was a much more even affair. Having said that it was the Phoenix who lit the light next through a welcome return to the goal for Bruce Mulherin at 24min 25sec. This prompted a response from the Caps who finally got on the board at 30min 49sec through Rajcak and then again at 44min and 4seconds through Bowie.
Third Period: The early Phoenix pressure seemed to have gone in the Third and the Caps fought their way back into the game! The Phoenix finally but more breathing space between themselves and the caps thanks to a vintage one-on-one from Beauregard who raced away and buried the puck! All was well! Unfortunately during this period both teams discipline seemed to desert them and both sides made frequent trips to the penalty box. The Caps made the final minutes tense with their third goal at 57min 50seconds through Hurtubise. Then with Kenton Smith in the box at 58minutes and 6seconds for a debatable tripping penalty, the Caps pulled the keeper and lay siege to the Phoenix net! Thankfully the hockey gods were on our side and except for a Caps shot riccoceing from post to post the home side held on for the two points!
Verdict: On a chuffing cold night, it was not pretty, it was not easy! It never is against the Caps, it will certainly not go down as a stellar Phoenix performance, but what the hey, two points is two points!
Attendance: A number of reasons conspired to create possibly the smallest crowd of the season. A mid week game, just before Christmas, aforementioned cold weather and a massive pile up on the M56 saw around 600 brave souls make it to the Dome!
So the Phoenix march on to the weekend, trips to Coventry away (a point would be great!) before a home game vs the Bison (hopefully another two points!)
No comments:
Post a Comment