SHEFFIELD, U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers made the arduous trip up to Dundee on Sunday after a hard fought 3-2 win over league leaders the Cardiff Devils 24-hours-earlier on home ice.
The Steelers were without starting netminder Marek Pinc who suffered an injury against Cardiff meaning back up netminder Brad Day started the game against the Stars.
Day, full of confidence after backstopping the Steelers to the victory yesterday would once again take the plaudits against the Stars.
“Steelers Captain Jonathan Phillips battling along the boards (Image courtesy of Derek Black).”
The Stars have made a recent netminding change of their own with 41-year-old former Coventry Blaze and Newcastle Vipers goaltender Trevor Koenig replacing Vlastimil Lakosil who returned home for personal reasons,
It was the hosts who threatened first with Stars defenceman Kevin Hart firing a shot from the point, forcing Steelers netminder Brad Day into making a good blocker save at 02:14.
The Steelers ran into penalty trouble early doors when referee Rab Cowan gave consecutive penalties for Mathieu Roy and Jonathan Phillips gifting the stars a 5-on-3 powerplay.
The hosts almost took advantage when Justin Faryna fired a one-timer at the back post over the net at 03:22.
The Steelers swiftly countered with club stalwart Jeff Legue forcing Trevor Koenig into making a good low leg pad save after a 2-on-1 just moments later.
At 05:54 the Stars found themselves on a 2-on-1 with Mikael Lidhammar forcing Day into making a spectacular glove save.
Less than two minutes later the Stars broke the deadlock courtesy of hometown veteran John Dolan who was on hand to tap home a rebound back door after a Sam McCluskey shot rebounded out nicely to him to make it 1-0 at 07:14.
At 13:02 the visitors had a chance of their own when rugged blueliner Cullen Eddy intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and fired a shot high into the chest of Trevor Koenig.
The Steelers pressed and almost levelled when Tyler Mosienko’s wrap around attempt tested Koenig at 17:08.
No further scoring followed in the opening period, one in which the Stars narrowly outshot the Steelers by 9 shots to 8.
The Stars started the second period the stronger of the two teams with sustained spells of pressure in the Steelers zone with Chaumont and Dickenson both seeing their efforts saved.
Both teams shared chances early on with Jeff Legue and Levi Nelson going close for the visitors and Brett Switzer and Curtis Leinweber for the hosts.
“Steelers defenceman Jace Coyle opens his teams scoring (Image courtesy of Derek Black).”
The Steelers levelled at 32:04 when Jace Coyle fired a wrist shot from the point high past Koenig to make it 1-1.
Dundee soon regained their lead when Kevin Hart scored his second of the game after a shot from the left wing hash marks beat Day low blocker side at 35:06 to make it 2-1.
Things got heated at 38:02 when Rod Sarich and Justin Faryna exchanged pleasantries after Faryna had an extra jab at the puck after Brad Day had covered it up. A little melee ensued resulting in Faryna picking up an extra penalty for his troubles.
Just 11 seconds into the ensuing powerplay and Steelers forward Levi Nelson picked his spot glove side top shelf past Koenig to make it 2-2.
No further scoring followed with both teams going into the period break level after forty minutes of fast paced, end-to-end action at the Dundee Ice Arena.
The third period got underway and the Stars had the better start with David Turon and former Devil Doug Clarkson going close for the hosts, only to be denied by Huddersfield born Steelers netminder Brad Day.
At 51:50 the visitors came agonisingly close when Levi Nelson struck the crossbar from the right wing slot with a blistering wrist shot.
A resilient Stars team countered and came close to a third when Justin Faryna backhanded narrowly wide at 56:10.
The clock ticked away after 60 minutes ensuring that both teams would gain a point and the game would head to overtime.
The hosts had the better chances in overtime and it took them just 23 seconds to register their first shot on goal with Czech defenceman David Turon blasting a one timer into Day’s glove.
Steelers offered chances of their own with Cullen Eddy on a breakaway firing a wrist shot into the shoulder of Trevor Koenig at 53:40.
Just 14 seconds later former Fife Flyer Bobby Chaumont had a breakaway of his own with Brad Day coming up big once again with a great low leg pad save.
Neither team could find the back of the net in overtime, meaning the game would have to be settled by a shootout.
Steelers forward Ryan Hayes and Stars winger Curtis Leinweber saw both their penalty shots saved.
Tyler Mosienko edged the Steelers ahead with a spectacular backhand effort high over Koenig’s catcher.
“Steelers netminder Brad Day in action after an exceptional weekend between the pipes (Image courtesy of Derek Black).”
Next to step up was former Edmonton Oilers draft pick Lou Dickenson. The 33-year-old Canadian couldn’t find a way past Day once again meaning if Sheffield scored they would win the shootout.
Levi Nelson was the man tasked with securing the extra point. He skated in down the right wing and showed great composure to out-wait Koenig and put the puck high past him to secure the extra point for the Steelers.
Both netminders deservedly took the Man of The Match Awards after an impressive display at the Dundee Ice Arena.
The Steelers will next face the Coventry Blaze in back to back games next weekend and will be looking to gain valuable points in order to track down current league leaders the Cardiff Devils.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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