No saturday away game for the Phoenix last weekend so just the home game on sunday, this time the Jet's came to the Ice Dome for their first visit of the season. The only other meeting came on the opening weekend of the season when the Phoenix took a victory in the hangar down in Slough. Another tough game in store, especially as the Phoenix were icing without James Archer and Josh Ward, who sustained a broken jaw in the Panthers win in Hull saturday night!
First Period: Despite having a shorter bench the Phoenix began brightly and were able to close down the Slough offence well. After creating a number of chances the Phoenix finally go the breakthrough after 7min 27sec. Tom Duggan moved to the crease and began battle to screen Rockman in net, James Neil sensing an opportunity stepped off the blue line and sent a wrister on goal which found the net. Things got better for the Phoenix when Juraj Faith scored a powerplay goal after 11min 36sec, the Phoenix were looking good! But, as often happens when the Phoenix jump to an early lead, they eased off! This let Slough right back in the game, at 14min 25 Darius Pliskauskas got the first goal back for the Jets, and under a minute later the scores were tied. The goal coming at 15min 20sec. The buzzer went and the Phoenix faithful were a little shell shocked. A brilliant opening 12 minutes were undermined by the last 8!
Second Period: The second period saw no goals but both sides traded chances. with the play looking a little more even between the sides. Fone and Rockman in nets were being kept busy, but the sharpness in front of goal was just not there and neither team could make the breakthrough.
Third Period: Slough would score first in the third, with Pliskauskas stepping up to score at 43min 01sec. He is a real class import, and a fantastic find by the Raiders way back when! With the clock ticking on the Phoenix had to press for a goal and, ironically, it would come on the penalty kill. Koulikov getting a deserved goal at 45min 17sec. With the teams evenly matched and neither wanting to risk losing a point the game ended with no further goals and went into OT. Importantly the Phoenix did take a penalty with around 30sec left with Faith heading to the box.
Overtime: That penalty left the Phoenix with 3 skaters against Slough's 4. from the first puck drop the Jet's set up camp in the Phoenix zone and began moving the puck around. Dan Davies on the back post missed an absolute sitter, but as we were to find that was just a sighter! Just 50sec into overtime the Jet's moved the puck around quickly and Davies was again found on the back post clear, and this time he made no mistake! the Jet's winning 4-3 after OT.
Verdict: A tough loss to take, given the Phoenix began so brightly! But, as ive said in previous post's, if the Phoenix are to lose id prefer to take a point! That point keeps the Phoenix joint top of the league. A loss of focus and, possibly, the short bench caught up with the lads sunday night. With Spelda having surgery on his ankle, the Phoenix head into this weekends games with 3 players possibly sitting out. I can only hope James Archer is back fit, otherwise it could be a tough weekend! A final note, Ryan Watt, I know his type of role is an agitator, but he was a disgrace in that game. Then to add further insult he was given the MOM. there were boo's from the Phoenix faithful but I cannot condone what Watt did. While skating over to accept his MOM he proceeded to mock the home crowd, the only purpose of which was to incite the home crowd. A real shame!
Attendance: A good crowd for a saturday night game, i'll guess between 1-1,100 in the Ice Dome
Phoenix 3 Sough 4 - Phoenix Article
Phoenix 3 Slough 4 - Slough Article
Phoenix 3 Slough 4 - CB Sport
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