SHEFFIELD, U.K. – Sheffield have dashed their hopes of progressing into the Challenge Cup later stages after drawing with Cardiff Devils last week, and more recently losing to the Coventry Blaze at the weekend. Sheffield however cemented their place at the top of the Elite League table with a comfortable 8-0 hammering of the Edinburgh Capitals.
Sheffield firstly took on the Cardiff Devils at Ice Sheffield (22nd September) in the Challenge Cup competition. Sheffield took the lead with a fine solo effort by Rob Globke, just over a minute into the game, leaving Cardiff goaltender Stevie Lyle to contemplate what just happened. Cardiff pulled back a goal to make it 1-1 in the fifth minute through American Centreman Scott Matzka, ensuring that they meant business.
Sheffield kept battling and soon regained the lead once again through Rob Globke in the seventh minute, to restore the goal advantage making it 2-1 to the South Yorkshire side. Cardiff wasted no time in tying the game up after a fine goal from their top point scorer Jon Pelle. Sheffield kept up the fast and frantic pace of the game, by taking the lead once again through Player/Coach Ben Simon who netted on the powerplay in the fifteenth minute. It was Simon who scored once again to give Steelers a 4-2 lead in the eighteenth minute, after assists from Jeff Legue and Joey Talbot. No further scoring followed in the first period, ensuring Sheffield went into the period break the happier of the two sides.
Scott Matzka bagged his second of the night for the Devils in the twenty-eighth minute, on the powerplay to help mount a fight back for the team from South Wales. Sheffield Steelers top point’s scorer Joey Talbot had ideas of his own by netting his first of the game with fifteen seconds remaining in the second stanza, to ensure the two-goal cushion for the Steelers. Sheffield extended their lead to 6-3 after a trademark slapshot from Jeff Legue at 41:18. Cardiff were by no means out of the game, and signalled their intentions after Cardiff-born Sam Smith pulled one back for the visitors 31 seconds after Legue’s reply. The visitors ensured the game would be a nail biter for the final ten minutes after their Player/Coach and former-Steeler Gerad Adams brought his team to within a goal at 48:14. Cardiff applied further pressure and after a face-off in the Sheffield defensive zone, Scott Matzka netted the equaliser to make it 6-6, and to dampen the spirits of Sheffield and their fans.
It was a different story when Sheffield took on Edinburgh for the first time this season, as the South Yorkshire side ran away 8-0 victors at the Motorpoint Arena. Sheffield got off to a great start as Captain Jonathan Phillips danced around the Caps’ defence and slotted the puck home after 32 seconds. The Steelers doubled their lead in the eleventh minute after Joey Talbot pounced on a rebound after an initial Jeff Legue slapshot to make it 2-0 to the home side. Sheffield added further misery to the Capitals after Jonathan Phillips netted his second of the night after a great pass from Neil Clark on the powerplay in the fifteenth minute. Neil Clarke got in the act himself less than a minute later after good work from line mates Ben Simon and Rob Globke, netting the Steelers fourth and concluding a 4-0 first period. Jonathan Phillips completed his hattrick in the twenty-second minute after another fine solo effort, assists were awarded to Jerramie Domish and Rob Dowd. Edinburgh did well to prevent further scoring in the second period after some good saves from netminder Scott
Talbot and Legue on fire (Photo courtesy of Sheffield Steelers)
Derek Campbell netted his first in Steelers colours and on his debut in the forty-seventh minute, to make it 6-0 to Ben Simon’s men. Neil Clark bagged his second of the game in the fiftieth minute on the powerplay after some good work from Rob Dowd, to make it 7-0. Clark then went on to complete his hat trick with a shorthanded goal, with less than six minutes remaining in the game. No further scoring followed, which meant Sheffield Steelers netminder Ervins Mustukovs recorded his fourth shutout of the season.
Sheffield then travelled to the Skydome Arena twenty-four hours later, to take on the Coventry Blaze in Challenge Cup action. Both teams had opportunities in the first period, but neither team could convert, thanks to fine netminding from Brett Jaeger and Ervins Mustukovs of Coventry and Sheffield respectively. The former of the goaltenders was tested first, as Sheffield Steelers Player/Coach netted the opening goal in the twenty-ninth minute on the powerplay to beat Jaeger. Former Edinburgh Capitals player Owen Fussey brought Coventry back on level terms, with two minutes remaining in the second to conclude the period with no further goals being scored. Paul Thompson must have rallied his troops in between periods as Coventry came out all guns blazing in the third, and were soon rewarded with a Sean Selmser goal in the forty-third minute. Just over a minute later Coventry Captain Jonathan Weaver netted to give the home side a two-goal cushion at 3-1. Coventry stalwart Dan Carlson added his teams fourth in the fiftieth minute, to make a comeback from Sheffield look very unlikely. Swindon-born Aaron Nell put the game to bed with just over a minute remaining and completing a 5-1 rout over the Sheffield Steelers.
Sheffield next face the struggling Dundee Stars at home on Sunday 3rd of October in Elite League action.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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