SHEFFIELD, U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers claimed another valuable two points with a victory over the Dundee Stars on Sunday, with the game being settled by a decisive Jeff Legue penalty shot.
Another valuable two points as Steelers record seventh win in a row.
The Steelers made the long coach journey up to Dundee and were still shrugging off the bus legs, when former-Steeler Jeff Hutchins netted the first goal of the game for the hosts at 5:29 on the powerplay to take a 1-0 lead.
Dundee’s lead was barely two minutes old when Jonathan Phillips restored parity for the visitors at 7:22 after a nice set up from former Blaze stalwart Luke Fulghum, making it 1-1.
Sheffield pressed and began to find their feet at the Dundee Ice Arena, testing goaltender Chris Whitley who once again put in a great display between the pipes.
The visitors got their just desserts at 13:13 when Steelers Player/Coach Ryan Finnerty netted his teams go ahead goal on the powerplay whilst Brent Hughes was sitting in the box, to make it 2-1.
Sheffield took their slender advantage into the first period break, but they would be surprised with what awaited them in the second period.
The Stars came out with fire in their bellies in the second period, and plied the pressure on Sheffield backup netminder Geoff Woolhouse.
A.J. Maclean was to be ‘Jonny on the spot’ for the Stars as he fired home his teams equaliser at 25:03 after good work from new player Mark Kolanos, who was to assist on all three of the Stars goals tonight.
Dundee continued their assault on Woolhouse’s goal out shooting the reigning EIHL champions 13-6 in the period. It was the host’s ninth shot that was to prove vital with young Scottish forward Lee Mitchell netting on the powerplay at 35:41 giving his team the lead once again.
No further scoring followed in the second period, ensuring the Stars went into the changing rooms the happier of the two teams.
The third period started much like the last, with the visitors being on the back foot. Sheffield kicked into gear midway through the final period with a barrage of shots on Whitley, who stood firm to the test.
Sheffield began to take control, and their hard work was soon rewarded with a goal from influential Player/Coach Ryan Finnerty once again at 57:05 to make it 3-3.
Both teams pressed in the final three minutes, but to no avail, ensuring that the game would be settled outside of regulation time.
Dundee started overtime with a 34 second powerplay with Sheffield falling foul of the too many men infraction.
The hosts were to have the only shots on goal in overtime, with Steelers netminder Geoff Woolhouse saving both of them.
Sheffield’s supremacy reigned once again as Jeff Legue and Steven Birnstill fired home the crucial penalty shot goals to claim the extra point at stake, with Brent Hughes and Mark Kolanos failing to dispatch their efforts.
Steelers/Player Coach Ryan Finnerty will hang up his skates at the end of the season.(Picture courtesy of Sheffield Steelers)
Just 48 hours after Ryan Finnerty led his side to a victory over the Stars, it was officially announced that the gritty forward will be hanging up his skates at the end of the year, but will continue his coaching duties from behind the bench.
Finnerty’s 15th season in professional hockey will be his last due to a recurring back problem being the reason for the 31-year-old Canadian’s difficult decision.
“This is my last year, just because of the way I feel it has to be. I have not got much more left in me. Every so often one of my (spinal) discs slips out, it did it in the summer. I always try and strengthen the area around it but then it just seems to jar. It can happen any time, it doesn’t matter what I am doing; I could be taking a shower and it goes,” said the rookie Player/coach.
“I will be a better coach, 100 per cent, when I stop playing. It will be night and day. It’s different when you are playing, you can only do so much. But when you are on the bench you see everything, that’s why there is no player coach in the NHL and they seem to get it right,” Finnerty admitted.
The Steelers will return to Scotland once again this weekend, but this time for a double header against the seventh placed Edinburgh Capitals.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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