A brilliant night off the ice at the Sheffield Arena but a disappointing one on it as the Steelers lost the big Boxing Day game to the Nottingham Panthers 3-2.
An incredible sell-out crowd, an EIHL record attendance of 9,368 watched the game, a match that the Steelers just failed to ignite in.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead into the first break, Logan MacMillan scoring, assisted Lawrence and McGrattan at 5.21
The Steelers then had to kill a lengthy 5 on 2 Nottingham Power-Play when first Roy (6.10) and Bjorklund (6.24) sat out minor penalties. The Steelers carried that momentum into some late first period pressure but to no avail on the scoresheet.
Cometh the moment, cometh the man, Mathieu Roy backhanded high into the roof of the net to equalise just 47 seconds into the middle period. (1-1)
Steelers failed to carry that equalising goals momentum and created little in the middle period with Mustukovs having to make several outstanding stops at the other end.
With all to play for in the final period it was the visitors that set the tone going close on several occasions and Mustukovs again shutting the door.
The Steelers twice failed to clear their zone allowing Nottingham to pile attack after attack on, eventually they scored.
Brain McGrattan at 47.11 putting the Panthers 2-1 in front
The Steelers pushed looking for the equaliser but without the zest and sharpness we have seen from them to date.
As the Steelers pressed the Panthers hit on the counter attack, new signing Justin Williams breaking away and beating Mustukovs for a 3-1 scoreline.
Steelers pulled Moose in the final two minutes and after a time out scored a 2nd goal that gave the sell out crowd hope of a come back. Schultz picking up a rebound of a Hagos and O’Connor move.
With Mustukovs back to the bench the Steelers again tried for that all important 3rd goal but to no avail.
A disappointing end to a terrific night at the Arena.
With Steelers match report
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