Sheffield Steelers came from two goals down before snatching an overtime winner to leave Guildford with a 4-3 win over the Flames.
The opening goal of the game went the way of the Flames. Charlie Curti’s shot from the point was deflected in front of former Flames goalie Eamon McAdam by Jake Coughler to open the scoring with just under 13 minutes played.
“The team did a great job of giving me easy saves, especially early,” said Flames goalie Justin Fazio. “We played a really good, team defensive game tonight and it was a great effort from everyone I thought.”
A poor giveaway in the Flames’ end set up the Steelers to level – Ryan Tait gratefully took the puck and set up Mikko Juusola for the tying goal 49 seconds into the period.
“It was a long travel day for us and maybe some of the legs were a bit heavy, so you expect a bit of a slow start in a tough rink, but I had a couple of saves early that got the guys going,” said McAdam, returning to his former team. “I thought from towards the end of that first period we kind of took over.”
Having started very well, the Flames found themselves under pressure from the Steelers who grew into the game. A post denied Jack Jacome from giving the Flames the lead back before the period was out.
Two goals in ten seconds then put the Flames two ahead. Cole Ully skated in 2-on-1 to beat McAdam with a neat wrist shot, and off the very next draw Jack Jacome set up Josh Waller for a one-timer to make it 3-1 at 26:17.
An excellent solo goal from Dominic Cormier got the Steelers back to within one, cutting in from the wing and across the crease to slot past Fazio at 27:03. Sam Tremblay then finished a loose puck two minutes later to tie the game. Jacome hit a post as the Flames threatened to go back ahead, but the second ended with the teams all square.
“When Cormier took that puck to the net, he sort of sent a message,” said McAdam. “It was a tough play to go in hard like that, and such dedication really got the guys going. It really sparked us.”
“Sheffield are a good team and will always keep pushing,” said Fazio of the Steelers’ comeback. “We did well to tighten it up after they got level again and battled hard all the way through the rest of the game.”
In period three both sides tightened up and ensured neither would be caught on the rush. In the closing stages, the Steelers were indebted to McAdam for a string of excellent saves as he somehow stopped the Flames from snatching a late winner.
In overtime the netminding clinic continued at both ends as Fazio joined the party of game-saving stops. Travis Brown also made a handful of exceptional blocks to keep the Steelers out. In the end, it was Jordon Southorn who won the Steelers the extra point with a shot under the arm of Fazio to seal the win.
Fazio concluded: “I wish I could have made that save at the end. The guys were battling hard and blocking shots in front of me, I wanted to get that win for them.”
McAdam, meanwhile, enjoyed victory against his former team. “It was weird coming back in here,” he laughed. “Even just walking into the building and going into the other side, it’s a strange experience. But it was great to come out with the two points and enjoy it.”
Photo: John Uwins
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