SHEFFIELD, U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers hopes of advancing in the Challenge Cup were boosted after a hard fought 3-2 victory over the Hull Stingrays, and 24 hours later a comprehensive win in the League over a depleted Edinburgh Capitals.
Steelers secure maximum points in the League and Challenge Cup
The Steelers first travelled to Hull on Saturday to face a much-improved Stingrays team who were without top scorer Jason Silverthorn who was missing due to an ankle injury.
The hosts got off to the perfect star when Jack Watkins slotted home in front of the Steelers goal, thanks to a neat pass from Jereme Tendler behind the net to make it 1-0 at 12:04.
Both teams had several chances but couldn’t convert in the first period, one that Hull outshot Sheffield by 14-7.
Sheffield came out stronger in the second period and were soon on the board thanks to a Neil Clark laser from the top of the circle at 21:37 to level the game at 1-1.
Sheffield then took the lead for the first time in the game after Colt King tipped in a Matt Stephenson shot from the point on the powerplay at 34:09 to make it 2-1 in his team’s favour.
No further scoring followed in the second stanza, in which Sheffield out shot the hosts 10-5.
Both teams came out firing in the third period but with Tom Squires in the box for a boarding penalty, Hull took advantage of the extra man with Player/coach Sylvain Cloutier firing home from the left hash mark after a good pass from Derek Campbell to tie the game up at 2-2 with less than five minutes remaining.
Cloutier’s marker ensured a nervy and tense finish to the game and it looked like the game was all but done. With ten seconds remaining Sheffield broke into the Hull zone and a scramble in front of the net and some lacklustre defensive marking from Hull gifted Sheffield a goal with Neil Clark backhanding past Boucher to make it 3-2 and seal the two points for his team.
Jeff Legue with another brace of goals against the Capitals (Image courtesy of the Sheffield Steelers)
Sheffield then hosted the Edinburgh Capitals 24 hours later, who made the long trip south of the border with just 11 skaters and iced their back up goaltender Craig Holland. Sheffield came away 6-1 winners, but the Capitals played much better than the scoreline suggested.
Sheffield started the game strong and were soon on the board thanks to a neat backhand finish from fan favourite Jeff Legue at 3:56 to make it 1-0.
Sheffield soon doubled their lead with Steelers player-coach Ryan Finnerty finding Lee Esders back post, who made no mistake in slotting the puck home at 14:56 to make it 2-0.
The Capitals despite their short bench kept battling and soon got a breakthrough at 16:05 with the impressive Rene Jarolin who fired past John DeCaro, thanks to a great pass from Bari Mckenzie. No further scoring followed in the first period, which saw some great end-to-end rushes from both teams.
Sheffield then turned it up a gear and with three unanswered goals in the second period, they effectively put the game to bed early on taking advantage of the Capitals depleted squad.
The first goal of the period came after Tom Squires fired home after a goal mouth scramble with Holland lying on the floor at 23:29 to make it 3-1 to the hosts.
Jeff Legue then netted his second of the game at 34:11, only a moment earlier the same player missed the net after a great end-to-end skate, but he made up for it as he fired home a blistering wrist shot to make it 4-1.
With just 20 seconds remaining in the period, Rod Sarich fired home a trademark slapshot goal from the blueline to record his teams’ fifth goal of the night.
The Steelers started the third period with back-up goaltender Geoff Woolhouse replacing John DeCaro.
Woolhouse made some great saves particularly gloving a Rene Jarolin wristshot that was destined for the top corner at 43:09.
Sheffield pressed and Neil Clark netted the sixth and final goal of the night after a goalmouth scramble to beat Craig Holland in the Capitals goal.
Steelers Player-Coach Ryan Finnerty shared his thoughts after the game: “The win last night was important as far as the Challenge Cup goes and tonight’s win crucial in the league. We knew that Edinburgh wouldn’t over pressure us with the amount of bodies they brought down with them. Sometimes these games can turn out horribly wrong but we kept our shape and did a professional job.”
Sheffield travel to bitter rivals the Nottingham Panthers this Saturday, before hosting the Hull Stingrays 24 hours later at Ice Sheffield looking to build on their winning streak.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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