Elite League leaders Coventry Blaze had to come from two goals down to beat Basingstoke Bison and move a step closer to the title.
Greg Chambers and player-coach Ryan Aldridge gave the Hampshire side a 2-0 lead but Adam Calder, KC Timmons and Dan Carlson turned things round as Blaze target a third league championship success in four seasons.
Belfast Giants suffered a second defeat of the weekend and now trail Coventry by two points - having played four games more.
Opponents Manchester Phoenix got an early lead with a short-handed effort from Joe Tallari and although Peter Campbell (35th) levelled, they trailed 4-1 at the first break after Simon Mangos (five on three powerplay), Joe Tallari (powerplay) and Luke Stauffacher.
Tony Hand and Brian Passmore also netted in Manchester's 6-3 win, with Trevor Johnson (powerplay) and Scott Cameron netting Giants' other goals.
Nottingham Panthers inflicted a 5-1 defeat on struggling Cardiff Devils in Wales, with Corey Neilson (two), Johan Molin (powerplay), Kevin Bergin (powerplay) and Patrik Wallenberg netting before netminder Tom Askey lost his shut out with only 101 seconds remaining when Max Birbraer scored.
However, there was some good news for the hosts, with the return from injury of netminder Phil Osaer and player-coach Gerad Adams.
Mike Stutzel led the way with a hat-trick as Edinburgh Capitals kept their play-off hopes alive with a 4-1 defeat of Newcastle Vipers.
Vipers led when Colin Shields scored in the 10th minute but Stutzel turned things around and Neil Hay also scored.
In the night's other game, Sheffield Steelers scored a seventh straight league success with a shoot-out success at Hull Stingrays.
All four goals in regular time came on the powerplay, with Jake Riddle and Brad Patterson twice giving Hull the lead, only for Ryan Finnerty and Jeff Legue to tie things up.
After overtime failed to find a winner it was Joey Talbot who scored the only goal in the shoot-out to give Steelers the extra point and almost extinguish Hull's play-off hopes.
More news from SportingLife.com
