PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Sheffield rally from early deficit, down Flyers

SHEFFIELD – On Saturday night the Sheffield Steelers hit EIGHT past the Fife Flyers, eight unanswered goals, as Aaron Fox’s side ran rampant at the Fly DSA Arena.

Coming in off the back of the victory against Belfast Giants last Sunday, Aaron Fox opted to stick with the same line-up for the game on Saturday night at the Fly DSA Arena.

Early doors and the Steelers took control of the play forcing Flyers’ goalie, Adam Morrison into a number of stops to keep the aggressive Steelers forecheck at bay.

Tanner Eberle went the closest when the puck squeezed through the pads of Morrison but #10 could only tap the rebound against the near post.

Next to go close was Marco Vallerand but again, Morrison got the slightest of touches to deny his snipe from the face-off circle.

Despite the Steelers dominance, it would be the visiting Flyers who took the lead on the power-play as Paul Crowder knocked the puck home whilst falling to the ice (10:19).

One soon became two and again a power-play goal for Fife, this time Danick Gauthier saw his shot ricochet off the stick of Vallerand and fly under the glove of Tomas Duba (12:40).

Fife deserved their lead as a dogged defensive display and clinical power-play work ensured the rewards were duly justified.

There were plenty of chances for the Steelers to get on the scoresheet, but the opening period ended with a two-goal lead for Todd Dutiaume’s side.

As head coach, Aaron Fox once said: “the Steelers score in bunches” and that is exactly the story of period two.

First up to find the net was defenceman Aaron Johnson as his blast from blueline flew by the glove of Morrison who was perfectly screened in front (26:11).

Twenty-five seconds later on the score was tied thanks to a devastating near-post finish from Janne Kolehmainen who was teed up nicely by AJ for his second point of the game (26:36).

By now the ice was tilted in favour of the Steelers and Foxy’s men looked to kill the game off as soon as possible.

Another goal, another goal of the week candidate from Nikolai Lemtygov who latched onto a pass from Duba before dangling round Morrison and finishing in style making it 3-2 (29:03).

Had it not been for a remarkable glove save to deny Tanner Eberle, the score could have been even more damming earlier on.

With no time to catch your breath, the Steelers made it 4-2 this time Eberle getting in on the act, heading to the front of the net, Eberle re-directed an AJ one-timer inches over the goalie’s pads.

A deft touch, an important touch and one that left Morrison with no chance of stopping (31:56).

Period two scoring wasn’t finished as Anthony DeLuca saw a wicked wrist-shot clink off the far post and hit the back of the net at 35:26 meaning the Steelers had netted FIVE unanswered second-period goals.

Time in the middle frame was coming to a close and a 5+game slashing call against Fife’s Scott Aarsen took the whole building by surprise.

Sitting on a comfortable three-goal lead, with the two times out for the third period it was clear Aaron Fox’s message was to continue the pressure.

It was a message firmly received as the Steelers continued to press, forcing a number of turnovers from the Flyers’ skaters and firing shots on goal from all angles.

By squeezing the puck by Adam Morrison, DeLuca netted his second goal of the night, taking the overall scoreline to 6-2 (48:48).

Last weekend saw Brendan Connolly (Belfast reject) fire by Shane Owen on the breakaway and wearing the number 66 blood shirt, Connolly broke away and went forehand backhand producing the same result a week later.

Connolly found the back of the net with finesse making it a 7-2 game at 51:56.

And things were not done yet.

The moment of the night came on Alex Graham’s third shift of the night, as the young pup from the tightest of angles banked the puck of the goalie and over the line.

It was the biggest cheer of the night and the arena lept to their feet to make it a memory Graham would not forget in a hurry.

A first goal as a Steeler and MOTM Eddy to reward Alex on a fantastic achievement.