SHEFFIELD, U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers took two points from a possible four at stake with a win again the Coventry Blaze, but lost to the Cardiff Devils 24 hours earlier.
(Image courtesy of Sheffield Steelers)
Sheffield kicked off their weekend games with a trip to South Wales to take on fellow title hopefuls the Cardiff Devils. The two teams have developed a strong rivalry over the years but recently it has escalated mainly due to the on ice exploits of chief antagonist Brad Voth. Sheffield were already without the injured duo of Jonathan Phillips and Jeff Legue, with Tom Squires away on international duty with the Great Britain Under 20’s squad in Belarus.
Voth justified his reputation once again as he amassed 55 penalty minutes but also scored the Devils game-tying goal in the third period.
Voth’s catalogue of incidents started in the first period as he was given a 2+10 penalty for a check to the head on Sheffield’s Neil Clark resulting in him leaving the game through injury. This penalty was reviewed by referee Mike Hicks after the game and upgraded to a match penalty, which carries an automatic three game suspension, which is effective immediately.
Voth then fought Steelers tough guy Derek Campbell in the second period, with the latter claiming the win in the altercation.
Then in the third period Voth was assessed a 5+ game penalty for boarding after a hit on Sheffield Steelers defenceman Steve Munn, resulting in Munn not playing a further part in the game due to concussion.
Sheffield opened the scoring at 7:27 with a powerplay marker from Neil Clark giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Ashley Tait netted his twelfth goal of the season on the powerplay at 12:15 to double his teams advantage.
Cardiff came out all guns blazing in the second period and added a powerplay marker of their own, this time through Tylor Michel at 24:46.
Cardiff pressed and outshot Sheffield in the second period 10 to 5 but couldn’t find a way past in form netminder Ervins Mustukovs.
Brad Voth tied the game up at 44:40 with his fifth goal of the season after good work from linemate Max Birbraer.
Scott Matzka netted the game-winning goal for the Devils at 52:19 ensuring a long coach trip back for the visitors.
Joey Talbot also suffered a concussion in the gamer, but this time from a legal mid ice hit from towering forward Max Birbraer.
Steelers were witout the injured duo of Joey Talbot and Jeff legue for the Blaze clash (photo courtest of Sheffield Steelers)
Sheffield then took on the Coventry Blaze at the Motorpoint Arena 24 hours later, claiming an impressive 3-2 win.
Both teams were severely depleted, Sheffield through injuries and Coventry through suspensions after their bench clearance against the Panthers from the previous weekend.
The hosts opened the scoring at 9:59 through Neil Clark after good work from Rob Dowd on the play. The visitors outshot Sheffield in the first period by 13 shots to 11, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Neil Clark chalked up his seventeenth goal of the season when he made it 2-0 to the South Yorkshire side at 37:52. No further scoring followed in the period ensuring Sheffield were the happier of the two teams going into eh third period.
Coventry weren’t done just yet, and Greg Chambers signalled his team’s intentions as he netted at 49:47 to make it 2-1.
Russ Cowley then restored parity for the visitors at 55:12 to ensure an exciting finish to the game.
The visitors’ celebrations were short lived when former Blaze stalwart Ashley Tait netted the game-winning goal for the Steelers 40 seconds later, helping them to claim a 3-2 win and two vital points in their quest for the league title.
The Steelers next face the struggling Newcastle Vipers on the 18th December, then back to back games against their arch rivals the Nottingham Panthers on the 26th and 27th of December.
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