SHEFFIELD, U.K. – The Sheffield Steelers hopes of retaining the EIHL title hit a speed bump once again after another loss at the Skydome Arena against the Coventry Blaze.
Just 24-hours-earlier the Steelers bounced back from their mid-week anguish after back to back losses against arch rivals the Nottingham Panthers in the Challenge Cup semi-final, following it up with a 7-0 hammering of the Dundee Stars at Ice Sheffield.
Marek Pinc celebrates his first shutout for the Steelers (Image courtesy of Dean Woolley)
It took the hosts just 39 seconds to register their first shot on goal after a great passing play from Guillaume Desbiens and Tyler Mosienko, with the latter finding linemate Levi Nelson with a pinpoint pass. The Steelers winger fired his shot into the chest of Stars netminder Trevor Koenig.
The Stars replied with a chance of their own at 4:10 with Lou Dickenson firing agonisingly wide after linemate Doug Clarkson pounced on an errant Jace Coyle pass in the Steelers zone.
The Steelers broke the deadlock at 04:51 when Levi Nelson broke down the left wing and fired a sublime wristshot top shelf over Trevor Koenig’s glove, after a great initial pass from Great Britain international Ben O’Connor.
The hosts doubled their advantage at 10:27 when veteran forward Jeff Legue blasted home a slapshot low glove side past Trevor Koenig to make it 2-0 after an errant Bobby Chaumont pass which was picked off by Legue.
The visitors pressed and came close to grabbing a goal when Doug Clarkson rattled the post with a blistering wristshot at 13:22.
Veteran forward Jeff Legue nets Steelers second of the night (Image courtesy of Dean Woolley)
The Steelers added a third goal at 16:14 when Jace Coyle fired a one-timer low 5-hole past Trevor Koenig, with the shot fortuitously taking a deflection off Stars defenceman Martin Porejs foot on the powerplay to give the Steelers further breathing room, heading into the first period break.
The hosts made it 4-0 at 26:07 when Fredrik Vestberg pounced on a loose puck after a breakdown in communication from Stars centreman Brett Switzer and Koenig with Vestberg finding Mathieu Roy in front of net, who then rounded Koenig to slot it calmly past him.
The Steelers added their fifth shortly after with some great work along the boards from Tyler Mosienko created a turnover and he found Guillaume Desbiens in the slot who then fired over Koenig’s glove at 28:22.
Mosienko then turned from provider to scorer for the Steelers sixth goal after a great passing play involving linemates Desbiens and Nelson, with the latter placing a perfect drop pass to Mosienko who placed his shot over Koenig’s glove at 34:24 to make it 6-0.
The goal was enough for Stars head coach Marc Lefebvre to pull Koenig in favour of young Scottish netminder Craig Holland affectionately known as ‘Sheepdog’ amongst the Stars faithful.
The Steelers changed tact in the third period and ensured their main priority was protecting netminder Marek Pinc. The South Yorkshire side ‘shut up shop’ defensively and limited the Stars chances to shots from the perimeter.
The Steelers added their seventh and final goal courtesy of Luke Ferrara, who was thriving on an increase in ice time. The Peterborough-born 22-year-old picked up a loose puck at the right wing circle and fired a well-placed wristshot post and in low blocker side past Holland at 58:23.
The clock ticked down and the buzzer sounded ensuring the Steelers picked up a valuable two points and Marek Pinc collected his first shutout for the club.
The Steelers then travelled to the West Midlands on Sunday evening to take on the Coventry Blaze who have proved to be their Achilles heel this season.
The Blaze have won the last five encounters between the two teams, with their most recent win being in a shootout on the 7th of February.
The hosts got off to the perfect start when Brett Robinson was on hand to fire home from close range after a goal mouth scramble to give his side a 1-0 lead at 1:43.
Coventry soon extended their lead when recent addition Brenden Walker skated down the right wing and fired a thunderous slapshot high over Marek Pinc’s blocker to make it 2-0 at 5:13.
Tempers were frayed at 7:21 with Blaze defenceman Boris Valabik and Steelers winger Guillaume Desbiens trading blows, and receiving coincidental 2 minute roughing penalties for their troubles.
The Steelers offered chances in the opening period with Fredrik Vestberg and Mathieu Roy threatening on goal, but Blaze netminder Brian Stewart was more than equal to the test, helping the Blaze to a 2-0 lead heading into the period break.
The Steelers started the second period strongly and it took them just 48 seconds to get on the scoreboard courtesy of Levi Nelson who fired the puck high past Stewart after a scramble in front of the Blaze net.
Brenden Walker fires his second of the game past Pinc (Image courtesy of Scott Wiggins)
The visitors equalised at 25:30 just 12 seconds into the man advantage with Jeff Legue firing home a trademark slapshot from the blueline to make it 2-2.
The Blaze countered and came close to regaining the lead with Carl Lauzon forcing Marek Pinc into making a great diving glove save at 30:26.
The Blaze offered chances in quick succession from Brett Robinson and Mike Quesnele at 36:25 but Marek Pinc thwarted their efforts with relative ease.
The period was all but done when Brenden Walker fired home his second goal of the game with another cracking slaphot from the right wing over Pinc’s blocker with just 14 seconds of the period remaining to make it 3-2.
Despite trailing the Blaze by a goal, the Steelers had a much improved second period and had the hosts on the back foot for lengthy spells in the middle stanza.
The Blaze started the third period strongly and almost added a fourth with Walker searching for a hattrick, his slapshot struck the post much to the relief of Pinc and the Steelers fans at 42:59.
Jordan Pietrus celebrates the Blaze’s fourth and final goal (Image courtesy of Scott Wiggins)
With just less than ten minutes remaining the game turned sour once again when Boris Valabik hit Steelers captain Jonathan Phillips from behind head first into the boards. Referee Dean Smith assessed Valabik a match penalty for a check to the head at 50:45.
The West Midlands outfit regained their two goal margin, after a great forecheck by Walker behind the Steelers net, he turned the puck over and found Jordan Pietrus in front of net who then jammed the loose puck home past Pinc at 56:13.
The Steelers were handed a valuable opportunity late in the game with a 5-on-3 powerplay, once again Stewart came up big for the Blaze denying good chances from Desbiens, Roy and Coyle, and then Jeff Legue being denied by the post.
At 58:15 Blaze forward Brenden Walker was sent to the box on a hooking minor penalty. Steelers Head Coach Paul Thompson used the opportunity to call a timeout and pull netminder Marek Pinc in favour of an extra attacker. Despite a golden opportunity back post with Tyler Mosienko firing wide, the hosts held firm.
The clock ticked away and a shot from Desbiens after the buzzer drew the ire of Kevin Noble who shoved Desbiens, with the former NHL’er retaliating with a two-handed slash on Noble which earned him a match penalty.
A melee ensued and handshakes were postponed with Noble and Steelers defenceman Cullen Eddy being in the thick of the action.
Once again the Blaze have proved to be the thorn in the Steelers side as they recorded an impressive four point weekend with wins over Cardiff and the Steelers, denting both teams title hopes in their quest to land a playoff spot.
The Steelers have just one game next weekend as they host the Fife Flyers at the Sheffield Arena.
Contact the author at Scott.antcliffe@prohockeynews.com
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