Why can't we seem to sort it out?

So, that was another entry into the 'What the FUCK?' column for the Phoenix.

losing 9-2 on the road was bad enough (and by all accounts we were absolute shite), but to stage not 1, but 2 comebacks from 3 goals down, only to lose on penalty shots... argh1 Not fair!

Now, to be honest, it was an end to end kind of game. As bad as our defence looked (and at times it looked woeful), our forwards showed moments of almost sublime brilliance. After a faltering start, even Big Ed started to hustle for the puck, and look like he gave a shit.

The major talking point was Jakkos Match penalty for an 'accidental high stick leading to injury/blood'. This surely must be one of the most contentious rules in the EIHA. By giving out a Match penalty for something which occure by accident (which by definition means not deliberate), you are penalising the outcome, not the intent. Indeed, from what i gather, it was the Guildford player, Masa, who in trying to lift his own stick caused Jakkos to catch him in the mouth. This caused a small amout of blood to flow, and the Match penalty call came into effect.

As others have stated on both forums and blogs, even given that we play ina semi pro league, and most of the guys have jobs to go to on a Monday, the Match penalty call is a tad excessive. 5+Game, maybe, if a fairly serious injury is caused, but for a minor injury (say a split lip, bitten tongue type) surley 2+2 is ample. Shit, its what the infringement would have gotten in pretty much any other league you could care to name.

Anyways, for neutrals and newbies alike this was surely a stunning game to watch, although from my perspective, I don't think my heart can take much more of these games.

Clearly something needs to be done about our D (and the lack of effective back checking by the forwards), and if rumor is to be believed, the the Phoenix have added Steven Wallace (laterly a membe rof the Sheffield Scimitars) to our roster as a forward, meaning Jakko is likely to drop back to the D permanently. Not the solution I would have prefered, but one which may yeild some positive results.

And thanks to Rock Radios tickest promotion the crowd on Sunday was a scarcely believeable 1500 (give or take a couple of dozen or so), which made for a cracking atmosphere.