Game Summary
In a thrilling showdown, the Sheffield Steelers put up a strong fight but ultimately fell 5-3 to Eisbären Berlin, who head into the second leg with a two-goal lead.
Sheffield’s goalie Matthew Greenfield put on an impressive display early on, turning away relentless Berlin shots. Despite his heroics, Berlin broke the deadlock at 18:35 with a close-range goal from Zack Boychuk, sending the visitors into the lead by the end of a high-paced, physical period.
The action ramped up as the Steelers battled back to tie the game 3-3. Berlin struck first to make it 2-0, but Mark Simpson soon responded, tipping in a powerful shot to pull the Steelers within one. After Berlin restored their lead to 3-1, the Steelers’ fourth line fought back, with Sam Tremblay scoring off a rebound. Just before the horn, Dominic Cormier’s snipe levelled the score, electrifying the home crowd.
In a tightly contested final period, the Steelers couldn’t break through, and Berlin took control. A quick goal from Blaine Byron at 43:58 put Berlin back on top, and a late tip-in from Leonhard Pföderl sealed the game at 5-3. The Steelers kept pressing, but Berlin’s disciplined defence preserved their advantage.
Man of the Match Mark Simpson and the Steelers now turn their focus back to domestic play with a Challenge Cup clash against Coventry Blaze before a trip to Scotland to face the Fife Flyers. They’ll look to keep momentum up ahead of the second leg against Berlin.
First Period [0-1] – Greenfield Stands Tall, but Berlin Breaks Through in Hard-Hitting First Period
In a high-energy opening frame, Sheffield Steelers’ goalie Matthew Greenfield stood out with a flurry of impressive saves, yet it was the Berlin team who struck first, courtesy of former NHL player Zack Boychuk. The arena buzzed with intensity from puck drop, as both teams delivered a fast-paced, physical style that brought fans to the edge of their seats.
The Steelers’ defence was put under early pressure, with Sacha Guimond and Veeti Vainio displaying their grit at the blue line, shutting down Berlin’s efforts to crash Greenfield’s crease. They held strong against forward Manuel Wiederer, thwarting his attempts to score from close range.
Greenfield’s glove was tested repeatedly, facing off against former Steelers player Liam Kirk, who fired a wrister from Berlin’s left wing. Seconds later, Ty Ronning tried to capitalize off the face-off, but Greenfield remained unyielding between the pipes.
The Steelers managed to push back with a few offensive looks of their own. Newcomer Maxim Golod, making his debut, threaded a slick cross-zone pass to Robert Dowd, but Dowd’s shot went wide of Berlin netminder Jake Hildebrand’s right post. Another chance came when Steelers’ Mikko Juusola used his speed to break away, going forehand to backhand in a bid to slip the puck through Hildebrand’s five-hole, but the Berlin goalie shut down the attempt.
Berlin’s Liam Kirk nearly tilted the scoreboard, set up with a perfect diagonal pass on the right wing, but a bounce at the last second spared the Steelers from conceding. As the period drew on, Greenfield remained a wall, fending off close-range shots from Blaine Byron and Lean Bergmann.
Despite Greenfield’s heroics, Berlin broke the deadlock at 18:35 in a scrappy play around the net. After a flurry of action with Ty Ronning and Leonhard Pföderl swarming the crease, the puck landed on Boychuk’s stick, and he wasted no time, sending it into the net to give Berlin a one-goal edge heading into the second period.
It was a fiercely fought start, and with Berlin holding the lead, the Steelers will look to even things up as they head into the second.
Second Period [3-3] – Steelers Battle Back in Thrilling Second Period, Tying Berlin 3-3 in First-Leg Showdown
What a period of hockey! The second frame delivered some of the most exciting action you’ll see, with the Sheffield Steelers clawing back to level the game at 3-3 heading into the final period of this intense first-leg battle.
The period began with tension, as Dominic Cormier and Kevin Tansey stepped in to protect their goalie, Matthew Greenfield, after Leonhard Pföderl made contact with him post-whistle. Fired up by their defense, the Steelers pushed forward, with Marco Vallerand and Robert Dowd applying pressure behind Berlin’s goal. But it was Berlin who found the net first, extending their lead at 21:15. Liam Kirk set up Mitchell Reinke with a flawless layoff, giving Reinke ample time to snap a shot over Greenfield’s glove and make it 2-0.
The Steelers answered back quickly at 23:53, as Mark Simpson positioned himself perfectly in front of Hildebrand to tip in a powerful blast from Tansey. Tansey received a pass along the half-boards from Daniel Ciampini and fired, with Simpson’s touch sending the puck into the top corner, cutting Berlin’s lead to one.
The Steelers kept up the momentum, with Ciampini and Daniel Leavens nearly converting a two-on-one rush before Sam Tremblay delivered a bone-crushing hit on Berlin’s Eric Hördler, who was slow to get back to the bench.
Berlin restored their lead to 3-1 at 27:45 after the Steelers struggled to clear their zone. Liam Kirk once again played playmaker, feeding Ty Ronning for a one-timer at the back post. But the Steelers wouldn’t go away. At 33:18, the fourth line got to work, as Cole Shudra fired from the right wing, only for Tremblay to bury the rebound, bringing the Steelers within one once more.
With the crowd on their feet, the Steelers kept pressing. Finally, they tied the game at 39:07 after Berlin’s first penalty kill. Dominic Cormier spun quickly on the right wing and rifled a snapshot across Hildebrand, picking the top corner. Assisted by Veeti Vainio, Cormier’s goal sent the home crowd into a frenzy, leveling the score at 3-3 as the teams headed into the final period.
It was an electric period for the Steelers, whose resilience brought them back into contention and set the stage for an intense final period.
Third Period [3-5] – Steelers Fall Short in Final Period as Berlin Takes Two-Goal Lead into Second Leg
Despite a determined effort from the Sheffield Steelers, it’s Eisbären Berlin who heads into the second leg with a two-goal cushion after a tightly contested final period. The Steelers, unable to add to their goal tally, fell 5-3 in a hard-fought game.
The final period kicked off with promise for Sheffield, as Ty Ronning’s hooking penalty just 14 seconds in gave the Steelers an early power-play opportunity. Maxim Golod had the best chance, finding himself with space down the left side, but his shot just missed the post, leaving the game level as Berlin killed off the penalty.
Berlin capitalized shortly after returning to full strength, regaining the lead at 43:58. Blaine Byron collected a pass from Mitchell Reinke at the right-wing circle, powered into the slot, and fired low past Greenfield’s right pad, putting Berlin up 4-3.
Tensions began to rise, and the Steelers saw their first penalty of the game when Marco Vallerand was called for cross-checking after an intense battle in front of Berlin’s netminder. The Steelers’ penalty kill unit held strong, preventing Berlin from widening their lead.
However, at 56:36, Berlin struck again. Leonhard Pföderl, Berlin’s top scorer, tipped in a close-range shot off a hard blast from Eric Mik, with Kai Wissmann also earning an assist. This goal gave Berlin a two-goal lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
With seconds left, matching roughing penalties for Vallerand and Zack Boychuk brought a heated contest to a close. Berlin now heads home with a 5-3 advantage, leaving the Steelers needing a big performance in the return leg.
Steelers forward Mark Simpson, who was named Man of the Match, will be leading the charge as the team now shifts focus to domestic play. They face the Coventry Blaze at home in a Challenge Cup clash on Saturday before traveling north to Scotland to meet the Fife Flyers on Sunday.
