Tonight in "The Storm Shelter" sees Steelers embark on the first of three games in four days which possibly will spell either the end of the title chase or not. We go across the Pennines to face Omar Pacha and his Manchester Storm outfit in the latest "War Of The Roses" battle.
And what a battle this promises to be..
Manchester go into tonight's game in the hottest streak of their season so far; six consecutive wins! Those include back to back wins over Braehead which all but finished off the Clan's title dreams and they will be looking to do the same to us in their own barn. They will fancy their chances and have been bolstered on the blue line with the signing of GB internationalist Paul Swindlehurst from Nottingham.
Panthers head coach Corey Neilson made the defenceman surplus to requirements after bringing in former Dundee Star Kevin Quick and Franklin MacDonald; and to be honest I was as surprised as anyone that he did this. But it's a major coup for Pacha's team and one that will strengthen the Storm's defensive corps which have been stretched all season so far.
Paul Thompson welcomes back both Ben O'Connor and Jonathan Phillips from international duty; and Zack Fitzgerald is set to return after injury kept him out of the shootout loss in Coventry. With no return dates planned for either Colton Fretter or Robert Dowd; Steelers will be at as full strength as they can be.
This game could go either way; especially if the meeting on New Year's Day is anything to go by. Paul Phillips gave the Storm a first period lead before home-boy Jason Hewitt equalised early in the second. Then inspired by a Piotr Valcak brace; Storm led 4-1 after 40 minutes and Steelers looked dead and buried in front of a sell-out crowd. Or so we thought? Three goals in the final period, including a last gasp goal from O'Connor took us to overtime where Steelers continued to dominate. Freddie Vestberg had a penalty shot saved by Kalemba but the respite was brief: Levi Nelson getting the eventual game winner.
Pacha was hopping mad, Thompson looked relieved. So it could be a real barn-burner tonight with Cardiff hoping for a Steelers slip-up. I think we will come away with another win to set up it just right for the weekend; 4-2 I predict. How do you see it?
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