Game Summary
The Steelers winning run was ended tonight by the visiting Glasgow Clan who took the game by two goals to one. Late controversy as Coach Fox’s challenge with only 4 seconds to go on a goal-line scramble was waved off by the officials.
Mikko Juusola opened the scoring for the second night in a row, but Jordan Cownie scored within 42 seconds which was added to by Nate Kallen in the second period as the Clan took the two points on offer back to Scotland.
Pre-Game
After demolishing last years Grand Slam winners last night by five goals to one, the Steelers had quick a turnaround in a home double header weekend as the Glasgow Clan were in town for more Elite League action.
The Steelers sat atop of the league table before face-off with the opponents tonight sitting in sixth place having overcome the Guildford Flames in overtime on Friday night.
With Angus Laing in action for Hull, we welcomed back Jordan McLaughlin to the line-up to back up Matthew Greenfield as the rest of Aaron Fox’s squad remained the same from last night.
First Period (1-1)
During the first period, the Steelers commemorated their 5 millionth supporter with a special one-off jersey presented by the one and only Steelers Dan – congratulations Dan Hungate! Thank you to every single one of the 5 million who have supported over the last 30+ years – here’s to many more!
Onto game action and the Steelers dominated the possession in the first period which transferred into the shot on goal statistics as the Steelers ended the first twenty with 15 shots on Kielly’s net compared to the Clan’s 6 on Greenfield’s.
However, the goal column is all that counts and that was even at one a-piece by the end of the period and the teams opened their accounts withing 42 seconds of each other.
The Steelers goal coming at (12.29) as Mikko Juusola opened the scoring for the second time this weekend. Good work to take the puck out of the air and send the puck home into an open goal with Kielly scrambling across his crease. Assists on the play to Cormier for his second point of his debut weekend and Josh Nicholls.
The Clan struck right back on the next shift at (13.11) thanks to Jordan Cownie who took his chance well on the backhand over Greenfield’s blocker from in close with assists being awarded to Kallen and Lynch.
The Clan then killed off a Pelech holding penalty in the 15th minute despite solid chances for both Balmas and Nicholls at the right-wing point as the teams headed into the second period all square.
Second Period
Despite continuing to dominate the shot-count by 33 to 14, the Steelers found themselves behind by a goal after forty minutes.
After killing off another Pelech penalty, this time for hooking, the Clan got their go-ahead goal at (34.03) as Kallen picked up on his own assist to finish the second attempt into the back of Greenfield’s goal from close range. The goal assisted by Haden and Stevenson.
The Steelers continued to push forward but were unable to find the equaliser as a big third period awaited them to come from behind.
Third Period
In what seemed to be a running theme throughout the night, the Steelers continued to enjoy possession and put pressure on the Clan’s net to hem them into their own zone, but with little effect as the Clan did enough to take both points on offer back to Scotland.
In total, the Steelers managed 44 shots on Kielly’s goal to the Clan’s 17. The Steelers however thought they had their leveller with only 4 seconds to go as Greenfield was sent to the bench for the extra attacker. A huge scramble around the Clan goal with the 8,500 Steelers fans in the building seeing what looked to be a puck over the line on the jumbotron, but the goal was waived off by the officials. Aaron Fox used his coaches challenge, but the officials stuck with their original decision and sealed the deal for the Steelers to end the weekend with two points from a possible four.
Awards & Table
With the loss tonight, the Steelers are 8 wins from 10 games played in the league, leaving them top of the table with the Devils and Panthers now in hot pursuit. Tonight’s opponents, the Glasgow Clan now sit in fourth place with twelve points from their 10 league games played.
43 saves from 44 shots earned Jake Kielly the Man of the Match award for the Glasgow Clan as Mikko Juusola picked up the award for the Steelers for his second opening goal of the weekend.
Up Next
Next up for the Steelers is a trip to the spectrum next Sunday night to take on the Guildford Flames before we return home for a game at our old second venue, Ice Sheffield on the 29th November to take on the Manchester Storm. See you there!