Game Summary
The Steelers ran away in an eleven goal thriller against an impressive Fife Flyers tonight with three goals in the third period coming the way of a five on three and two short-handed efforts.
The Steelers got off to a flyer in the first period, sending Teddies flying onto the ice with only two minutes on the clock, before the Flyers fought back to take the lead early in the second, but 47 shots on Shane Owen’s goal proved too much for the Scottish outfit as the Steelers added two more points to their league leading total now sitting at 27 from 16 games played.
Pre-Game
It was Sheffield vs Fife again tonight as the Flyers were in town for Elite League action after last Sunday’s game up in Scotland saw the Steelers come out on top by four goals to three.
Tonight was also important for another reason, and that was Teddy Toss night where we help gather gifts for those children who need a gift from Santa the most at this time of the year around the city and we know you always turn out well for the event, Sheffield! Thank you once again!
Coach Fox penned in the same team as last week with Greenfield getting the start with Anthony Morrone, Sam Jones and Zach Vinnell on the sidelines.
First Period (2-2)
Teddy Toss night always brings the nerves, wondering when that first goal will come to send the teddies flying. When will it come? Who will get the goal?
Well, it didn’t take long to find out as the Teddies came flying onto the ice with only (2.01) on the clock as Neumann took the puck over the blue line, laid it off for Watling and continued to skate to create the screen on Owen as Watling found the bottom of Owen’s net below the catcher. Saucerman with the secondary assist.
The Steelers were then in full flow early, peppering Owen’s net with shot after shot, looking dangerous every time they went forward and were rewarded again at (3.46). The goal coming courtesy of a fortuitous deflection as Cormier looked to send the puck across Owen, only to take a deflection from Shirley up high and somehow find its way into the back of Owen’s goal. Diffley and Whistle credited with the assists. Shirley did take a brief trip to the locker room, but it was good to see him return to action shortly afterwards.
It looked as though the Steelers may run away with it, but as the game opened up with both teams going backwards and forwards with two on one’s, it was the Flyers who came out on top in the second half of the period with two goals of their own.
The first timed at (11.29) as Allen lost his man Eriksson, who took full advantage at the back post to send the puck into an empty net after being found well by Humitz. The second then timed not long after at (16.25) with a nice finish up high by Chiodo after being found out infront by Shirley who also picked up a secondary assist on the Flyers first goal.
The Steelers did battle back well and looked close to taking a lead into the third as Whistle nearly found a way past Owen just before the buzzer, but the Steelers would have to settle for a level game heading into the second period.
Second Period (4-3)
Another two goal period for the Steelers saw them take a one goal lead into the third twenty as they came from behind with two goals in 61 seconds after the Flyers took the lead early.
A huge one-timer from Pavlovs put the Flyers ahead at (24.47) as he dropped onto a puck bouncing off the half-wall and his blast was enough to beat Greenfield five-hole as he looked to the heavens wondering how he was beaten.
But it was the Steelers Captain who got the Steelers back level at (27.57) after Juusola took the puck for a skate around the Flyers zone and took a shot from the high slot, only to hit the bodies in-front and drop at Dowd’s skate who turned and fired low past Owen.
There was hardly enough time to update the socials before the Steelers were ahead again at (28.58) thanks to Daniel Ciampini who picked up his third league goal of the season and was assisted by Vallerand and Saucerman who picked up his second assist of the night.
The Steelers then began to take charge for the rest of the period as Dowd missed out on making it five with an open goal to aim at and Owen scrambling, but his backhand was up and over the bar to keep it a one-goal game.
The Steelers doubling the Flyers efforts on goal by the end of the second with 28 on Owen’s goal to Fife’s 14 on Greenfield as the Steelers would have been hoping to keep the pressure on heading into the third.
Third Period (7-4)
And the Steelers did just that, sending in 47 shots in total on Owen’s goal in comparison to the Flyers 20 on Greenfield’s as the Steelers added another 3 goals to their tally in the third; one a five one three effort, with two coming short-handed.
The first of those three goals coming at (50.10) as both Owen and Humitz were called for infringements on the same play as Dowd was dragged to the ice and Balmas was sent tumbling by Owen at the same time. The Flyers did well to keep shots to the outside, particularly from Saucerman, until Watling found Neumann with a shot/pass which was finished with a tidy tip.
Credit to Fife who just wouldn’t give up all night and were back within one at (52.13) as Chiodo picked up his second of the night with another nice finish low on Greenfield at the back-door as he went two on one with Eriksson.
Despite the sustained pressure from the Steelers, it was short-handed efforts which then took the game away from Fife.
The first of the short-handed goals coming at (53.46) when Ciampini was sent to the box for tripping, but Mark Simpson had other ideas, using his size and strength to win the puck battle at the Steelers blue line and go two on none with Whistle who finished a beautiful one-timer past Owen.
With the Steelers then on the penalty kill again after a Saucerman hooking call, the Steelers found their seventh with Owen pulled as that man Simpson again used his reach to this time win another battle, but this time at the Fife blue line to see the puck into the empty goal and seal the two points for the Steelers.
Awards & Table
Man of the match awards were presented to Collin Shirley for his two assists for Fife, before Brett Neumann was award with the Steelers honour for his three points and showed his dance moves with a bit of Macarana at centre ice.
The Steelers continue to lead the pack with 27 points from their 16 games played as the Cardiff Devils continue to be in hot pursuit with 25 from their 17 played.
Up Next
Up next is a mid-week fixture on Wednesday night as we take on the Manchester Storm in second leg, Quarter-Final Challenge Cup action with the Steelers currently leading the tie by five goals to one. Only £8 per ticket for non-season ticket holders! 7.30pm face-off for this one – See you there!
