SHEFFIELD, U.K.- The home fans would have expected 3rd place Steeldogs to dominate 10th place Telford Tigers in this Mar. 7 midweek match-up. The Sheffield side fully delivered.
Player/Coach, Andre Payette will be ecstatic with his teams’ 6-2 home victory; a game in which the Steeldogs controlled possession and could have easily taken the score-line into double figures.
It looked to be plain sailing for the Steeldogs in the first period as Sheffield forward, Greg Wood, took the lead after just 12 seconds.
The first few minutes of the first period brought even more action as Payette and Tigers head coach, Tom Watkins, dropped gloves. After a brief scuffle, the referees stepped in and both were given minor roughing penalties.
The Steeldogs continued to control the game, in terms of both possession and goal scoring chances, but they could not extend their one goal lead. The first period ended 1-0 to the home side.
The Steeldogs raced out of the starting blocks in the second period, showing the same intensity and dominance they displayed in the first. It wasn’t long until their efforts were rewarded. At 23:24, Raivis Kurnigins ploughed through the Telford defence and rounded the Tigers netminder, Declan Ryan, to put the Steeldogs up 2-0.
Less than a minute later, Kurnigins claimed his second of the night on the rebound at 24:13.
The Tigers had no reply to the Steeldogs onslaught and it wasn’t long until they conceded a fourth goal. Leading point and goal scorer, Janis Ozolins’ superb individual effort put the game beyond all doubt at 31:40.
Sheffield’s lead was extended to five at 34:58 as Ashley Calvert’s perfect pass from behind the net managed to find Edgars Bebris’ stick, who coolly slotted the puck into the Tigers net.
With 13 seconds remaining of the second period, a shorthanded breakaway chance came to Steeldog, Stuart Brittle. Brittle’s breakaway chance was squandered by the Tigers netminder, but he made no mistake slotting home the rebound from a tight angle.
After an outstanding performance from the Steeldogs, the second period finished 6-0.
When the Steeldogs returned for the third period, Payette was dressed to sit out the third and stick to coaching from the bench. This resulted in the appearance of the Steeldogs trainees, Elliot Knell, Tim Smith and Shaun Wild.
The Tigers seemed to up the ante in the third period, regaining possession and recording more shots on net than the previous two periods.
At 50:41, Telford’s Thomas Soar scored for the Tigers. Five minutes later, Vince Connon claimed Telford’s second of the night at 55:19.
Kurnigins on scoring form (Picture Courtesy of the Sheffield Steeldogs)
After a resounding performance by the Steeldogs, the game finished 6-2. After an impressive shift and scoring two goals, Raivis Kurnigins was given the MOTM award.
The Steeldogs will next play Swindon as they travel to the home of the Wildcats on Mar. 10.
Contact the author at ryan.laycock@prohockeynews.com
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