Game Summary
The Sheffield Steelers showcased their resilience and finishing touch in a commanding 4-1 victory over the Fife Flyers, with Mark Simpson delivering a spectacular hat-trick. The win, earned in a hard-fought contest, sees the Steelers solidify their league standing while building momentum ahead of their Champions Hockey League second-leg clash in Berlin.
The Flyers, well supported by their home crowd, came out aggressively in the opening frame, testing Steelers netminder Matthew Greenfield early. Greenfield, back in the crease after a night off, turned aside multiple chances, including a point-blank effort from Ryan Foss.
Despite the Flyers’ early surge, it was Sheffield who struck first. At 2:47, Veeti Vainio’s blue-line work paid off as his second shot rebounded to Mark Simpson, who snapped it past Shane Owen to give the Steelers a 1-0 lead.
The Flyers responded quickly, capitalising on a Patrick Watling high-sticking penalty. Lucas Chiodo redirected a Ryan Foss pass at 4:53 to level the score. Both goaltenders shone in a scrappy remainder of the period, with Greenfield stopping 14 shots and Owen turning away nine to keep the score locked at 1-1.
Sheffield regained control early in the second period. Cole Shudra netted his first goal of the season at 23:25, firing a precise shot from the slot after being set up by Sacha Guimond.
The Flyers had chances to equalise during a Maxim Golod high-sticking penalty, with Maxim Musorov striking the outside of the post. However, Greenfield and the Steelers’ penalty kill held firm. Sheffield’s offense began to find a rhythm, with extended zone time tiring the Flyers’ defence.
Despite a golden opportunity on a power play, where Robert Dowd missed an open net due to challenging ice conditions, the Steelers carried their 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
The final frame saw the Steelers assert their dominance. While Robert Dowd and others peppered Owen with shots, it was Mark Simpson who broke through late in the period. At 58:08, Simpson tipped Patrick Watling’s pass through Owen’s legs, giving Sheffield a 3-1 cushion.
With Fife pulling their goalie in a desperate move, Simpson secured his hat-trick in style. Winning the puck at center ice, he coolly backhanded it into the empty net at 59:04, sealing the 4-1 victory.
Simpson’s three-goal performance earned him Man of the Match honours, capping a standout night for the forward. The win boosts the Steelers to 16 points from 9 league games as they prepare for a demanding schedule. Next up is a trip to Berlin for their Champions Hockey League tie before returning to Elite League action against Manchester Storm and Dundee Stars.
First Period [1-1] – Steelers and Flyers Battle to First-Period Stalemate in Fife
The Sheffield Steelers returned to action just 24 hours after completing their Challenge Cup group stage, traveling north to face the Fife Flyers in a Sunday evening showdown. Following an intense opening period, the teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after 20 minutes, with both sides trading early goals and showing flashes of offensive dangers.
The Flyers, energised by their home crowd, came out strong in the opening shifts. Steelers netminder Matthew Greenfield, returning to the crease after serving as backup the previous night, was tested early. He was called into action to deny Ryan Foss, scrambling to make a save before dislodging his net under pressure from the early Flyers offense.
Despite the early push from the Flyers, it was the Steelers who opened the scoring at 2:47. Defenseman Veeti Vainio orchestrated the play with excellent puck movement in the offensive zone, forcing two successive saves from Fife goaltender Shane Owen. The second rebound fell perfectly for Mark Simpson, who spun and snapped a shot past Owen to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Flyers answered back swiftly, capitalising on their first power-play opportunity after Patrick Watling was penalised for high-sticking. Just 2:06 after the Steelers opener, at 4:53, Lucas Chiodo positioned himself perfectly at the back post to redirect a Ryan Foss pass into the net. Though the puck appeared to deflect off Chiodo’s skate, there was no distinct kicking motion, and the goal stood to tie the game at one apiece.
The remainder of the period saw both teams struggle to establish consistent offensive zone pressure. A scrappy back-and-forth ensued, with neither side able to take up scoring opportunities. Steelers’ Maxim Golod used his great speed to create a chance getting around the Flyers defence during a power play, drawn by a Marco Vallerand trip, but Owen was equal to deny him with a pad save.
The Steelers had further chances to regain the lead, including an odd-man rush involving Daniel Leavens and Cole Shudra. However, the opportunity fizzled out as the play got too tight around Owen, leaving no room to shoot. Kevin Tansey also came close with a strong drive to the net, but Owen turned away his initial shot and the ensuing rebound.
Owen finished the period with 9 saves on 10 shots, while Greenfield matched his efforts, stopping 14 of the 15 shots he faced. As the teams headed to the locker room tied at 1-1, the stage was set for a fierce battle in the remaining two periods.
Second Period [1-2] – Shudra’s Strike Puts Steelers Ahead in Tight Battle with Flyers
The Steelers edged in front after two periods of play thanks to a decisive second-period goal from Cole Shudra. The tightly contested affair remained finely balanced heading into the final frame, with the Steelers holding a slim 2-1 lead despite being outshot 26-18 through 40 minutes.
The breakthrough in the second period came early at 23:25. Sacha Guimond skating hard down the left wing to set up Cole Shudra with space at the slot and given time to unleash a quick shot that beat Flyers goaltender Shane Owen over the blocker for his first goal of the season, restoring Sheffield’s lead.
Following the goal, the Steelers began to find a rhythm, applying sustained pressure in the Flyers’ zone. However, their momentum was briefly disrupted when Maxim Golod was assessed a high-sticking penalty. Fife’s Maxim Musorov came closest to equalising during the power play, firing a shot off the outside of Matthew Greenfield’s post before the net came loose.
Back at even strength, the Steelers resumed their offensive push, with Mikko Juusola, Maxim Golod, and Brandon Whistle working effectively to maintain possession and cycle the puck. Their efforts began to tire the Flyers’ defensive unit, but the visitors struggled to capitalise fully on their opportunities.
A golden chance to extend the lead came at 36:57 when Fife’s Phelix Martineau was penalised for boarding Patrick Watling. The Steelers’ power play nearly delivered, as Watling slid a pass across the crease to Robert Dowd, who had a wide-open net at the back post. However, a slow ice surface appeared to hinder the play, causing the puck to hold up and Dowd’s shot to miss its mark.
Despite the missed opportunities, Sheffield took the 2-1 lead into the second intermission. While pleased with their defensive efforts to hold the Flyers at bay, the Steelers will likely rue the missed chances that could have given them a more comfortable cushion heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation.
Third Period [1-4] – Simpson’s Hat-Trick Seals Steelers’ Gritty Road Win Over Flyers
Mark Simpson stole the show with a third-period hat-trick, propelling the Sheffield Steelers to a commanding 4-1 victory over the Fife Flyers on the road. The Steelers’ gritty effort earned them two crucial points in their league campaign, setting the stage for their upcoming second-leg Champions Hockey League clash in Berlin.
The final frame began as a tightly contested affair, with the Steelers dominating possession but struggling to find clear openings against a determined Flyers defence. Robert Dowd had several promising opportunities, including a sharp-angle shot from the left circle, but Shane Owen continued to stand tall for his team, turning away Dowd’s low effort with a quick pad save.
The Steelers were forced to dig deep midway through the period, successfully killing a Daniel Leavens tripping penalty without allowing a single shot on goal. As the Flyers began to tire, evident from consecutive icing calls, Sheffield ramped up their offensive pressure.
With less than two minutes remaining, Mark Simpson provided the insurance goal the Steelers had been hunting. At 58:08, Patrick Watling sent a sharp pass from the half boards into traffic in front of Owen’s net. Simpson redirected the puck with a deft tip through the goaltender’s legs, extending Sheffield’s lead to 3-1.
The Flyers pulled Owen for the extra attacker in a last-ditch effort to close the gap, but Simpson had other plans. Winning a crucial battle for the puck at centre ice, he calmly backhanded it into the empty net at 59:04, completing his hat-trick and securing the Steelers’ victory.
Simpson’s stellar performance earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match honour. The win lifts the Steelers to 16 points from nine league games as they now shift focus to their European campaign. Following their trip to Berlin, the Steelers will return to Elite League action with an away game against the Manchester Storm on Saturday before hosting the Dundee Stars at the Utilita Arena on Sunday evening.
