SHEFFIELD, U.K.- After a superb season, the Sheffield Steeldogs have managed to secure their third place position in the league table. A convincing 5-2 home win on Saturday Mar. 31 against the Bracknell Bees helped seal the deal.
The Steeldogs occupied third place heading into the final match of the season on Sunday Apr. 1. An away victory against the Guildford Flames would have secured their third place position, but the home were side were far too strong. The Steeldogs were beaten 7-2.
Luckily, fourth place Slough Jets, who could have leap-frogged the Sheffield side in the league table with a home win, were cast aside by the Milton Keynes Lightning in a close 3-2 game.
The home fans saw a dominant Sheffield side brush past the Bracknell Bees on Saturday Mar. 31 as the Steeldogs recorded a 5-2 victory over the travelling side.
It was a feisty and lively start to the first period as Steeldog, Lloyd Gibson, and Bee, Scott Spearing, went toe to toe after just four minutes. The Sheffield forward came away victorious.
Shortly after, Greg Wood opened the scoring for the Steeldogs with a great backhand shot at 6:41. Craig Elliot quickly made it 2-0 minutes later, scoring his first goal of the season. With just 33 seconds left in the first period, Bracknell replied with a goal of their own. Martin Masa capitalised for the Bees whilst on a 5-3 powerplay.
It was a quiet second period with only one goal scored. Greg Wood claimed his second of the night with a shorthanded goal, just 1:30 into the second period. The score read 3-1 at the end of the second.
Elliot%27s first goal of the season helps secure win for Sheffield Steeldogs (picture courtesy of Sheffield Steeldogs)
The Steeldogs put the game beyond all doubt late in the final third. Lloyd Gibson’s powerplay goal at 57:23 helped ease the pressure of the home side. With four seconds left of the game, Janis Ozolins concluded proceedings with an empty net goal to make it 5-2.
After scoring his first goal this season, Craig Elliot was given the MOTM award.
On Sunday Apr. 1, the Steeldogs were at the mercy of EPL League and Cup champions, Guilford Flames, and suffered a heavy 7-2 defeat at the home of the Flames.
The Flames quickly proved their dominance in the first period. At 11:16, Andrew Sharp opened the scoring. Just 20 seconds later, Curtis Huppe further increased Guildford’s lead. The first period ended with the Steeldogs trailing 2-0.
Andrew Sharp claimed his second of the night three minutes into the second period at 23:13. Despite the score-line, the Steeldogs kept pushing and pressuring the Flames netminder, Mark Lee, however, they could not find a way past the on-form shot-stopper. After a relatively even second, with both teams recording similar times of puck possession and same number of shots, the period ended 3-0 to the home side.
The third period sprung to life, with a staggering 6 goals scored. At 45:18, Rick Plant made it four unanswered goals for the Flames. The Steeldogs managed to reply, however, through EPL player of the year, Janis Ozolins, at 46:52 to make it 4-1.
Any hopes of Steeldogs’ comeback were soon crushed as Guildford recorded three back-to-back goals. Milos Melicherik claimed Guildford’s fifth goal at 52:42. Moments later, Jez Lundin made it six for the home side at 53:00. Curtis Huppe then recorded his second goal of the night and Guildford’s seventh at 56:46 to wrap up another dominant performance from the home side.
The Steeldogs had one last bite in them, however, through Ashley Calvert. With just 32 seconds remaining on the clock, Calvert slotted home a Sheffield consolation goal.
The game ended 7-2 to the Guildford Flames. Steeldogs player/coach, Andre Payette, was awarded MOTM.
The Steeldogs next face a double header weekend against the Basingstoke Bison in the quarter finals of the EPL Playoffs. On Saturday Apr. 7, the Steeldogs travel to the home of the Bison for the first leg, before returning to Sheffield on Sunday Apr. 8 for the home leg of the quarter finals.
Contact the author at ryan.laycock@prohockeynews.com
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