PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Flames doused in Sheffield

SHEFFIELD – Over 9,000 fans were packed into the fantastic FlyDSA Arena on Saturday night as the Steelers went back to winning ways in style.

No Ben O’Connor or Marco Vallerand for the Steelers on Saturday night who were hoping for speedy recovers on both guys.

The start was very even, with neither side able to create many clear cut chances, Tomas Duba the busiest of the two netminders.

When the deadlock was broken the visiting side would take a lead, in fact, their only lead of the game, through Ian Watters who with a little fortune, saw his shot deflect high over Duba’s head and down into the goal.

Going behind spurred on Aaron Fox’s side and chances were coming in favour of Sheffield, but none proving too hot to handle.

That was until Brendan Connolly, still riding his hot streak, combined nicely with Lucas Sandstrom and Marek Troncinsky to send the Arena to their feet for the first time (08:47).

The pressure was mounting on the Flames goal but Travis Fullerton and his Flames would remain strong with nor further first period whistles coming until 19:18, John Dunbar for hooking.

Period 2 was a little more favourable to the Steelers and it was the men in orange who took advantage on their second power play of the night.

Guildford defenceman, Jesse Craige was called for holding on with the extra-man, Jonas Liwing got the final touch on the play after hard work from Tanner Eberle (27:48).

Sheffield’s lead was increased, again on the power play, this time Brendan Connolly playing the puck smartly off Fullerton’s back from behind the goal line (29:47)

There was an opportunity for Guildford to answer back, firstly Jamie Crooks who was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked back on a breakaway, however, the resulting shot was denied by Tomas Duba.

And then a 5on3 power play for the visitors, Nikolai Lemtyugov was joined in the box by John Armstrong and the perfect opportunity was presented to the Flames.

However, a strong and resilient defence stood up to the challenge and the boys in orange went into the final frame with the score at 3-1.

Opposing head coach, Paul Dixon, spoke about post-game about the poor Flames third period and the scoreline would reflect this.

First of all Tanner Eberle, 1:57 into period three made it 4-1, the tricky forward broke to the front of the goal and squeezed the puck by Fullerton.

Less than two minutes later and Anthony DeLuca made it 5-1 with a penalty shot of his own, after taking a slash on the hands after breaking through on goal.

DeLuca buried the opportunity past Fullerton and sent the bumper crowd wild with a silky shot to the righthand side of the goalie.

As the latest addition to the Steelers side, Josef Hrabal has settled into the lineup smoothly and after a solid few weeks in orange, he finally found the net for the first time.

Pinching in from the blueline, Hrabal gathered the puck, took a couple of strides and fired low into the back of the net (47:21).

A different looking Flames side to what the Steelers had become so familiar with, had it not been for the play of Fullerton the result could have been a lot more severe.

It was a consolation goal for Jamie Crooks that made the final score 6-2 on Saturday night.

But it didn’t stop here for memorable moments on the ice. Curtis Warburton, who was suiting up for the Steelers once again was awarded a couple of minutes in net.

A young kid who has spent a great deal of time under the stewardship of Duba in Steelers practices brought the crowd to their feet for one last time.

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