Manchester Phoenix closed out their regular season campaign on Sunday night with another highly entertaining and goal-filled spectacular 8-5 victory over the Coventry Blaze.

And with sixth place in the final league standings already assured after Saturday's 5-3 win against Belfast , Phoenix will now play Cardiff next weekend in the Playoff Quarterfinals.

Resting Jason Wolfe for the evening against Coventry, Phoenix gave Matt Compton his second start of the season against the newly crowned champions. Anthony Battaglia started the scoreboard turning with a howitzer shot just past the four-minute mark and after Dan Carlson had equalised, Phoenix took a two-goal advantage into the first break courtesy of Adam Walker and Tony Hand.

The champions came roaring back in the second session as Carlson bagged his second before Joe Henry scored his maiden goal for the Blaze and Barrie Moore fired them in front. KC Timmons crashed a superb shot past Steven Fone to tie the game up and the goals kept coming as Adam Calder put the Blaze ahead again only for David Vychodil to reply with a trademark blockbuster from the left flank.

In the third period, Phoenix wrapped up the victory with Derek Campbell finishing a superb passing move involving Tony Hand and Brett Clouthier before Johan Molin bagged a quickfire double in the space of 21 seconds in the 56th minute.

On Saturday, with Belfast on a run of eight straight wins and Phoenix still not at 100 per cent due to ongoing sickness, it was always going to be a tough game and so it transpired as with just 95 seconds having elapsed, Derek Campbell and Jeff Hutchins dropped the gloves after the latter had slashed the Phoenix forward and both picked up five-minute fighting penalties. Phoenix drew first blood on the scoreboard as Tony Hand picked the pocket of the Giants defence to score unassisted on a wraparound in the 13th minute. Hutchins tied the game before the first interval with a shot of the left wing that eluded Jason Wolfe and with one second remaining Brett Clouthier and Jason Ruff exchanged unpleasantries, both again receiving major penalties for fighting.

The speed of the game if anything increased in the second period as both teams wanted the win and the game erupted in the 29th minute as Clouthier and Shawn Skiehar became involved and after a short scrap, both went to the penalty box on fighting majors. But, the disagreement continued behind the plexiglass and referee Moray Hanson decided enough was enough and sent both for the early bath on game misconduct penalties. The fracas though appeared to spur on the Phoenix as they exploded onto the score sheet with three goals in under four minutes. First Tony Hand bagged his second of the game, Derek Campbell added a third after good work from Hand and Johan Molin carved open the Giants defence and similar play from Campbell and Anthony Battaglia gave KC Timmons the chance to add the fourth Phoenix goal in the 35th minute.

Belfast regrouped in the second interval and came roaring back in the third period. Player coach Ed Courtenay reduced the arrears in the 48th minute and just over a minute later Jason Ruff made it a one-goal game. Phoenix held off the surging Giants and forced the visitors back. Entering the final moments, Giants lifted their goalie for an extra skater and after David Vychodil had shot wide of the unguarded net, Derek Campbell wrapped up the win after Johan Molin had collected the rebound and fed him in front of the Giants goal.

A Phoenix spokesperson said: "The two wins this weekend will give the guys a big boost in confidence as we head into the playoffs. We know Cardiff will give us stiff opposition next weekend, but we have the second game here in Altrincham where we fear nobody with our army of fans behind us."

The home leg of the playoff quarterfinals is Sunday April 1 in the Altrincham Ice Dome with face-off at 7.30pm.