After the cup final disappointment the Phoenix faced a weekend pair of games away against the Bracknell Bees and home against the Peterborough Phantoms. Neither game could be taken lightly and after thursday nights disaster it wouldn't be a given the Phoenix would win either game! Thankfully the Phoenix returned to form and blew away the Bees down in Bracknell by a score of 6-3
The visit of the Phantoms is always difficult, they are a hard working team and Stephen Wall in net's is one of the leagues most difficult netties to score against. So...onto the game!
First Period: Starting their 6th game in 9 nights the Phoenix looked to jump out to a quick lead against the Phantoms. Peterborough had other ideas and scored the first goal on the powerplay at 6min 31sec. Curtis Huppe would get the Phoenix on the board and kick off, what would be, an epic night for the Canadian. His first goal of the game coming at 11min 52sec. The Phoenix took the lead just before the end of the first period when Huppe got his second at 19min 03sec. The Phoenix looked much improved since thursday night, however the odd defensive wobble had the Phoenix faithful a little tense. Too many stray passes still!
Second Period: Huppe got his hatrick goal at 24min 51sec, and he fully deserved it, the man was on fire! 3-1 Phoenix. Peterborough began their fight back and in the space of 5 minutes would haul themselves level! They made it 3-2 at 29min 27sec, and tied the game while shorthanded at 33min 03sec. Many a Phoenix fan getting the jitters now, fearing a return to the collapse seen the previous thursday night! Huppe scored his fourth of the night at 34min 33sec, but Peterborough would take tie things up once again at 36min 54sec.
Third Period: With a little concentration the Phoenix should be able to see out the game and claim the two points, things would not be so smooth! Around the 55min mark the Phantoms took the lead for the second time in the game and really ratchet up the tension in the Ice Dome. Up stepped Curtis Huppe for his 5th goal of the night (taking him to over 50 for the season I believe!) at 56min 18sec. There would be no further score and the game would head to overtime! The Phoenix did have a powerplay going into OT though, with a Phantoms player on a 5 plus match for cross checking, resulting in a very groggy Tom Duggan leaving the game, in the dying seconds a Phantoms D man took a delay of the game penalty giving the Phoenix a 5 on 3 at the start of OT!
Overtime: With the two men advantage the Phoenix did not take long to secure the extra point! No, not Huppe! But Kristoffersson scoring this time after 60min 49sec.
Attendance: A good crowd in the Dome, i'll say around 900.
Verdict: A very relieved Ice Dome, and a much needed 4 point weekend for the Phoenix! While not the greatest performance it was much better when compared to the EPL Cup 2nd leg semi final thursday night! So another two points secured, but defiantly not a 'pretty' win!
Next up for the Phoenix is an away/home stand versus the Telford Tigers, a team the Phoenix should beat, but given some of the games against the Tigers, 4 points that would defiantly be tough to get!
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