Steeldogs are beaten 4-2 by the Phoenix

SHEFFIELD, U.K.- On Friday Sept. 28., the Sheffield Steeldogs found themselves, yet again, on the wrong end of a disappointing 4-2 defeat, this time, against the Manchester Phoenix.   After a goalless first two periods, with both Steeldogs netminder, Dmitri Zimozdra, and Phoenix netminder, Steve Fone, on top form, neither side looked likely to open the scoring.   It wasn’t until the third period that goals began to flow, with five of the six goals coming within the final 10 minutes of the game.   Just under two minutes into the period, Manchester’s Joachim Flaten, opened the scoring at 41:43. Around 10 minutes later, after the Phoenix picked up a bench minor penalty, Steeldogs Head Coach, Andre Payette, found an equalising goal at 51:45 on the PP.   Phoenix’s Head Coach, Tony Hand, restored Manchester’s lead moments later at 54:52. Manchester’s lead was increased further, seconds later, through James Archer, who fired the puck into the net to make it 3-1.   A backhanded shot from Steeldogs’ Derek Campbell at 56:12 brought the Sheffield side back to within one goal with less than five minutes on the clock.

  However, after picking up a late penalty call, the Phoenix were able to capitalise on the PP through Robert Schnabel who made it 4-2.   The game ended with the final score at 4-2 in favour of the Manchester Phoenix.   Sheffield’s Steve Duncombe was awarded the MOTM.   The Steeldogs travel to the home of the Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday Sept. 30.   Contact the writer at ryan.laycock@prohockeynews.com