Basingstoke Bison quenched the Phoenix’s fire, winning both double-header fixtures at the weekend
The Herd went into weekend needing victories to keep their hopes of a top four league finish alive.
Two brilliant displays saw the Basingstoke side take home four points against table-topping Manchester Phoenix.
Saturday's game at home saw the Herd take home two points with a 4-1 victory.
After journeying up north on Sunday, the Basingstoke side kept their momentum going with a 3-2 victory.
Despite arriving late at a packed Basingstoke Arena for Saturday’s encounter, the visitors were first to score, as Marcus Kristoffersson gave them the lead in the seventh minute.
The Herd levelled before the end of the first period, with Tony Redmond doing the hard work and letting Viktor Kubenko net a simple tap-in.
In the second period, Bison trampled over the defending Phoenix, with shots from Ollie Bronnimann, Nicky Chinn and Ondrej Lauko testing the Manchester netminder.
Bison netminder Dean Skins, who picked up man-of-the-match for his performance, thwarted the visitors’ attacks.
Half way through the second period, Steve Moria blasted in the Bisons’ second.
Skins played an integral part, with his saves shutting down Manchester's power-play advantages.
By the third period, Manchester had only scored once from six power-plays.
In the final period, the game could still swing either way, with the Bison holding on to a one-goal lead.
However, Mindy Kieras netted the home side’s third with eight minutes left.
Three minutes later, Bison added the final nail to the visitors’ coffin as Bronnimann scored from a Moria rebound.
The Herd then travelled up north the next day hoping to take away the win and hand the Phoenix their first back-to-back loss of the season.
The home side opened the scoring in the eighth minute through Kristoffersson.
However, before then end of the first period Kubenko bought the scores level.
Bison struggled to keep up in the second period and Kristoffersson netted his second, taking the home side into the final period ahead.
Manchester held out until, with 20 seconds left on the clock, Moria netted the equaliser.
Lauko then scored the winner 53 seconds into overtime.
The four points leave Bison clinging onto fourth spot in the table. On Saturday, they face Swindon Wildcats away and at home the following day.
Picture by Aaron Noonan
