When the season is said and done and the fans are looking to kill time in the off-season talking about the best of the year gone past, I would imagine there will be little debate on the game of the year.  Last night’s game against Manchester will get the award.

The Giants beat the Phoenix 6-2 but not only did the game include goals and fast end-to-end play, it included two fights, some true hockey retribution, a penalty shot and the best atmosphere of the season.  My faith was restored in the need for an enforcer in hockey and anyone who tells me that fight’s do not have a place in the game . . . I will point them in the direction of this game.

In the second period of the match-up Ed Courtenay was rammed into the boards pretty hard by Phoenix tough-guy Brett Cloutier.  Being the player-coach and top scorer of the team, this did not sit well with Giants proverbial ‘police-man’ Carlyle who moments later took a run and flattened Phoenix player-coach and ex-Giants coach Tony Hand.  It sparked a pushing match and on the ensuing face-off the two tough guys came together to produce an excellent toe-to-toe scrap.  It’s the way hockey should be and credit to the referee for letting the two guys duke it out.  The fight cleaned the game up and ended any possibility for further dirty play and the referee knew it.

The fighting wasn’t done however, as the game attempted to re-start the two smallest guys on the ice - not to be out-done by the two biggest - dropped the gloves and helmets and went at it.  The Giants Mark Morrison leaving the Phoenix’s Stauffacher bloodied and needing treatment.  It all took place with only a few minutes left in the period and so the referee called the period early to let the Zamboni clean up the blood of Stauffacher.

When the game re-started fifteen minutes later there was no more penalties - A clean game of end to end hockey ensued.

The Giants who lead 3-1 going into the final framed turned up the gas scoring three more to take a victory by a margin that the Phoenix did not deserve to lose by.  The Phoenix had kept the game tight throughout with the first half of the match still tied at one.  The Phoenix missed a penalty shot with a great save by Stevie Lyle.  It sent the crowd wild and the Giants fed off the momentum scoring a few moments later to take the game by the scruff.

The Giants head into Nottingham tomorrow night, likely tired and maybe even a little beat up.  Ed Courtenay looked a little shaky after his hit from Cloutier.  He didn’t take a shift the rest of the second period but did come out to play in the third.

Category: Game Recaps (07-08) » » Manchester Phoenix |

.................................................................................................................