SHEFFIELD, U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers quest to retain the EIHL title looked positive after a great four-point weekend over Nottingham and Coventry.
The Steelers travelled to fierce rivals Nottingham on Saturday evening with the 10-0 Challenge Cup loss still fresh in their minds.
A dominant first period from the visitors saw them take an early 1-0 lead courtesy of a trademark Jeff Legue blast from the blueline after a great pass from Levi Nelson in the corner at 05:58.
Steelers open the scoring in Nottingham (Image courtesy of Karl Denham)
The Steelers applied pressure and almost doubled their advantage when Robert Dowd struck the crossbar from the right wing slot at 12:42.
Recognising his team were flat, Panthers pugilist Cam Janssen invited Zack Fitzgerald to drop the gloves in the hope he could give his team a boost. The two warriors traded blows in a heated exchange, the fourth fight between the two combatants this season.
The fight had the desired effect for the hosts as they would come close moments later when Captain David Clarke rung a shot off the pipework on a 5-on-3 powerplay.
Some resolute defending and some great netminding from 36-year-old Steelers goaltender Marek Pinc protected the Steelers lead and allowed them to go into the first period break one goal to the good.
The Panthers came out of the gates strongly at the start of the second period and almost levelled through defenceman Bryan Schmidt just 30 seconds into the second stanza.
At 24:25 Marek Pinc was called into action once again to save from a David Clarke shot and the subsequent rebound falling to Matt Myers who was denied by a superb sprawling leg pad save from Pinc.
The Steelers countered and added a second against the run of play courtesy of a rocket from Mathieu Roy who skated down the left wing and fired a blistering slapshot high past Miika Wiikman at 25:39 to make it 2-0.
At 31:55 the visitors made it 3-0 when Tyler Mosienko skated down the right wing and fired a shot just inside the blueline, which looked to have took a deflection from Bryan Schmidt’s leg past Wiikman. Mathieu Roy was credited with the goal.
Despite late chances in the period from Kevin Quick and Challenge Cup Final hero Evan Mosey, the Panthers couldn’t find a way past the superb Marek Pinc.
The Steelers started the third period strongly and almost added a fourth when Robert Dowd came close with a backhand effort from the right wing just 70 seconds into the final period.
It would be the hosts who would grab the next goal with former NHL’er Juraj Kolnik cutting into the slot from the left wing and firing a sublime wrist shot high over Marek Pinc’s shoulder at 41:22.
Marek Pinc was outstanding against the Panthers (Image courtesy of Karl Denham)
The Steelers were handed a powerplay at 45:26 with Schmidt sitting out a cross-checking minor. Efforts from Fredrik Vestberg and Ben O’Connor were duly turned aside by Wiikman. Meanwhile, Juraj Kolnik saw a shorthanded backhand effort saved moments later by Pinc.
Despite a nervy ending to the game, the Steelers added an empty net goal from Mosienko with just 48 seconds remaining to ease some pressure and secure a valuable two points.
The Steelers returned to the Sheffield Arena 24-hours-later to host the Coventry Blaze, a team proving to be Sheffield’s Achilles heel.
The Blaze having won the last six fixtures between the two sides will be full of confidence, particularly netminder Brian Stewart who has really become the nemesis to the Steelers.
Steelers needed a strong start and they came out of the gates flying with Rob Dowd threatening on goal after just 72 seconds.
The Steelers soon got on the scoresheet at 06:08 when Mathieu Roy put away a Jace Coyle rebound from close range, which trickled past Brian Stewart.
At 8:14 the hosts doubled their advantage when Ben O’Connor rifled a shot from the blueline high past Stewart glove side, after a great pass from Steelers captain Jonathan Phillips.
Less than three minutes later the Steelers added a third with O’Connor netting his second of the game with another rocket on the powerplay top shelf from the left wing half boards past Stewart at 11:35 to make it 3-0.
The Blaze countered and came close with an effort from Mike Quesnele who forced Pinc into making a low leg pad save at 17:42.
With just over a minute remaining in the opening period the Blaze got on the scoresheet courtesy of veteran forward Ashley Tait getting the decisive touch after a goalmouth scramble.
The second period was just 30 seconds old when Guillaume Desbiens invited Blaze tough guy Boris Valabik to drop the gloves. The Coventry d-man duly declined.
The Steelers regained their three goal lead at 26:53 when Luke Ferrara redirected a Fredrik Vestberg pass which went low past Stewart to make it 4-1.
Luke Ferrara scores the Steelers fourth against the Blaze (Image courtesy of Mick Johnson @MickGta)
The Blaze responded and reduced the arrears to two at 30:47 with a slapshot from the point on the powerplay from Jordan Pietrus which went low past Pinc blocker side.
The hosts applied pressure towards the end of the period and came close once again with Stewart saving goal bound efforts from Tyler Mosienko and Jason Hewitt.
The Blaze added a third goal less than three minutes into the final period when former Braehead Clan winger Chris Bruton fired home from the slot low past Pinc at 42:36.
The Steelers responded and regained their two goal cushion at 51:42 on the powerplay with Jace Coyle re-directing a Rob Dowd shot from the point low past Stewart to make it 5-3.
The Steelers were handed another powerplay chance with Blaze pantomime villain Valabik sitting out a hooking minor.
Just 17 seconds into the man advantage Valabik was helpless as he witnessed Tyler Mosienko pouncing on a loose puck in the crease after a Mathieu Roy rebound fell nicely to him and he calmly slotted it past Stewart for the Steelers sixth and final goal at 56:29.
With less than two minutes of the game remaining, Valabik clearly rattled and frustrated slashed Steelers winger Levi Nelson earning himself a minor penalty and a ten minute misconduct, meaning an early shower for the towering Slovak.
The clock ticked down and the buzzer sounded ensuring the Steelers secured a vital four point weekend.
The Steelers now face the Panthers at home followed by a long trip up to Fife on Sunday on a weekend which will determine the victors of the Elite League regular season title.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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