Welcome everyone to a long awaited edition of the column penned by myself, your Editor-In-Chief. It's been a while since I did an article so I'm actually going to spoil you with two columns this week. The second one will be a roster analysis, so what will this particular piece encompass then?
Well, it's a look back over the last few games in Steelerland. Granted, I've only been to one game out of the five but I've been keeping tabs on the team's fortunes whilst away in Northern Ireland.
The first game in the spell came on the Saturday before Christmas when the Clan came to the House Of Steel. It wasn't an easy game, and we had to work for the points against an opponent who were missing a few bodies. But we did what we wanted to after suffering an unwanted reverse in our last home league game to Fife. Steelers scored three but it could have been more comprehensive if it wasn't for Ryan Nie in the away net. Good to get back to winning ways in the EIHL; because the natives were really getting nervous. A confidence boost ahead of the Panthers games.
I'm going to talk about the Panthers games in just one paragraph; call it a condensed summary if you want. Boxing Day was about as sweet as you can imagine, a third successive shutout for the Moose and a case of Steelers taking their chances and stepping up when they needed it the most. A lot have said to me that it was a complete home 60 minute performance; something that we haven't seen much of all season. Special teams were ultimately the difference, with three of the four being powerplay strikes. Could we build on it the following evening? The answer was YES! Steelers dominated the Panthers in their own building, and had limited them to just six shots in the first two periods. That's dominance isn't it? A five goal rout and another shutout for Moose; about time we did something like to them. Panthers backsides firmly handed to them! Merry Christmas indeed.
Then we finish this summary with a back to back series against the Storm. The game in the Arena was a niggly one with it really sparking off in the final stages. Another shutout for Moose, his fourth in a row, and a 3-0 win for the record books. Dowdy back on the scoresheet with a double, but Storm did themselves no favours with some of their antics. Skating off like petulant school children before the Man Of The Match awards. Then before the New Year's Day game, Finner is quoted to call us "drama queens" which is probably good home PR but seriously after his team's behaviour in Sheffield: it's a bit of a joke! Yet you thought it would light the touchpaper for a potentially penalty strewn game. Yet what we got was a goal fest with the teams trading goals and the lead numerous times. Superb hockey entertainment. Steelers made it over the finishing line with their fifth win in as many games (thanks to a shootout) which has seen their season take a much needed upturn.
So the Steelers now head in two more huge games against a team that have had their number this season both home and away; the Belfast Giants. With a new face in the ranks, Steelers will be at full strength as regards bodies to ice. It's looking a lot rosier than it was, but there's still a lot of hard work to do if some people are to be fully convinced we've turned the corner. A good point haul from the games in the "O" can only help the club's cause. Let's see what happens next.
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