Match report: Edinburgh defeat Manchester to reach playoffs

Saturday March 21, 2009.

Graeme Macleod reports on Edinburgh Capitals vs. Manchester Phoenix in the Elite League at Murrayfield Ice Rink for Edinburgh Sport Online.

THERE was playoff joy for the Edinburgh Capitals at Murrayfield Ice Rink as they secured their quarter final spot with victory over Manchester Phoenix.

‘We are number eight’ was the chant from the bumper home crowd in recognition of their side clinching the final spot in the eight-team playoffs. But it could get even better for the Capitals if results go their way tomorrow as they could pip the Newcastle Vipers to seventh place.

Either way, coach Doug Christiansen will be relieved to know that the pressure is off the trip to Hull tomorrow as the Northumberland side have been on the Capitals’ tails all season.

The Capitals made a bright start to this match and Mark Hurtubise almost opened the scoring on one minute. His angled-drive from the right was saved by Manchester netminder Stephen Murphy though.

Jason Cassells then saw his effort blocked by Murphy before Kyle Horne’s long-range shot was saved on the line as Edinburgh piled on the early pressure.

Hurtubise then dispossessed Phoenix’s Kenton Smith and tried his luck from range. But Murphy was equal to the shot as he made another save.

Manchester threatened at the other end on five minutes when Tony Hand played a pass into the danger area from the left. David-Alexandre Beauregard looked the apply the finish but he flicked his shot across goal and wide of the target.

A slip by Phoenix defender Josh Garbutt gifted Edinburgh the opening goal in the 6th minute. Mark Hurtubise took advantage of the Manchester man’s untimely misfortune to nick the puck and race towards goal. He then tempted Murphy from his goal-line before flicking a shot through the gap left by the visiting netminder.

Action at Murrayfield where Edinburgh Capitals defeated Manchester Phoenix

And Edinburgh were two up less than a minute later. Martin Cingel picked out Jason Cassells on the right. The Capitals forward then flicked a great shot beyond Murphy and into the roof of the net.

Manchester were handed a powerplay when Edinburgh were given a two-minute penalty as a result of Joe Dustin’s trip. And they took full advantage as they halved the deficit on 11 minutes.

After Kyle Bruce fired past from close range from the right of the goal, the puck broke to Nathan Ward. He picked out David-Alexandre Beauregard with a pass inside and the Phoenix forward applied a close-range finish.

But Edinburgh did not let that set back get them down. And as soon as they were back to a full compliment of players, they re-established their two-goal advantage. Mark Garside raced up the left after winning possession as the Capitals counter-attacked. His shot was blocked but the puck broke to Doug Christiansen. With his back to goal, the player-coach laid it off to Kyle Horne who smashed home from a considerable distance.

The visitors probed for a way back into the game and Luke Fulghum resorted to shooting from almost the half way line. Pasi Raitonen in the Edinburgh net was equal to the shot though as he made the block.

There was controversy on 18 minutes when Hurtubise was clean through on goal and was taken out by a Manchester defender. But referee Moray Hanson did not award a penalty spot to the obvious disgust of the home support.

Manchester should have grabbed another goal back in the last minute of the first period. Bruce split the Capitals’ defence with a grat through pass which sent Ward hurtling towards goal. He had time and space on his hands but he could only send a tame shot straight at Raitonen. (First period 3-1).

The Phoenix did grab their second goal of the evening two minutes into the second period. Fulghum emarked on a mazy run up the left but his shot was blocked by Raitonen. The loose puck dropped to David-Alexandre Beauregard though, who was on hand to knock home the rebound for his second goal of the game.

The Capitals came roaring back again though and netted their fourth goal three minutes later. Hurtubise played the puck from almost behind the Phoenix goal on the right to Mark Paterson at the near post. The Edinburgh forward did the rest as he scored his first goal of the season with a close range finish.

Manchester came close to netting their third goal of the game on 28 minutes. Bruce Mulherin picked out Ward with a reverse pass but his powerful drive was kept out by Raitonen, who knew little or nothing about the save.

Flughum then saw his shot blocked by Raitonen before Edinburgh almost added a fifth but Hurtubise shot over from coming in from the left.

Manchester set up an intriguing final period though when they reduced the leeway to one with a goal on 37 minutes. There were loud shouts from the home fans for a foul in the build up but when the Capitals could only clear the puck as far as Manchester’s Brett Clouthier, he fed Lucas Burnett on the right. The Phoenix man then flicked a shot past Raitonen and referee Hanson was again incurring the wrath of the Capitals’ supporters. (Second period: 1-2).

The Capitals were first to threaten in the final period when Taylor Christie raced in on goal but he flicked his shot past the left hand post.

Raitonen was having a fine night in the Edinburgh net and he again kept the visitors at bay on 51 minutes. Beauregard picked out Hand on the right but his shot was held by the on-form Capitals goaltender.

Paterson almost scored his second of the night when he marrauded up the right. His angled shot though was kept out by the outstretched leg on Manchester’s replacement netminder, Adam Summerfield.

But Edinburgh rounded off a memorable night with two late goals to make the points save. Mark Hurtubise scored a classy goal as he tormented and teased the Manchester defence by cutting in from the right and weaving past two visitng players. The Capitals forward then rifled a stinging shot into the net bia the underside of the crossbar to give the hosts some breathing space on 57 minutes.

Then with less than 30 seconds remaining, Edinburgh added a sixth. Hurtubise raced down the right but was denied a hat-trick by a smart Summerfield save. The rebound fell to Jason Cassells though and he did the rest from close range to secure the Capitals’ playoff spot. (Third period: 2-0).

Final score: Edinburgh Capitals 6; Manchester Phoenix 3.

Edinburgh Capitals – Pasi Raitonen; Kyle Horne, Taylor Christie, Mark Garside, Jordan Steel; Mark Hurtubise, Sean Perkins, Craig Mitchell; Neil Hay, Mark Paterson, Adam Stefishen; Doug Christiansen; Joe Dustin; Jason Cassells; Martin Cingel. Unused – Sean Donaldson.

Penalty minutes 6; Shots on goal 24 (Murphy 21; Summerfield 3); Powerplay 0/1.

Manchester Phoenix – Stephen Murphy; Adam Summerfield; Kenton Smith; Alex Dunn; Tony Hand; David-Alexandre Beauregard; Josh Garbutt; Nathan Ward; Brett Clouthier; Bruce Mulherin; Luke Fulghum; Adam Walker; Kyle Bruce; Carl Graham; Lucas Burnett.

Penalty minutes 2; Shots on goal 26; Powerplay 1/3.

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