Editor's note: This was written by Mark prior to Wednesday's game against Hull, hence the preview segment later in the argument.
AFTER a week reviewing the entire Elite League, it’s back to the bread and butter as they say and talk Steelers hockey again. Just the one solitary game to talk about but to pad it out, I’ll have a few thoughts chucked in about our Challenge Cup chances overall. How’s that sound for you? OK, let’s go then…
Tonight (Wednesday evening) sees us take on the Hull Stingrays at the en-suite bathroom (yes, playing there for the third time of asking this season already) in our latest Challenge Cup group qualifier. This is game number six of the round robin format for us but only the second one for our visitors. Mind you, they did not do too shabby in their opener. Just ask Corey Neilson.
I’ll drift back to the Challenge Cup in a bit, but bringing up Mr Neilson’s name means I can talk about our only game last week and the first visit of the Panthers into the House of Steel. New tradition of having a shave so the goatee remains perfectly manicured and a couple of pints in the pub with the lovely Jo pre game were performed, and it was time to release my passion for those men in orange. Lloyd Gibson of the Steeldogs did spot me in the pub, which was either embarrassing or popular ha ha.
So with the ever-popular Michael Hicks in charge (two games in a row, sense a pattern forming here?) it was time play hockey again, and see if we could overturn the loss encountered in the library a few weeks beforehand. We started off in my eyes; slow, and picked up some unnecessary penalties that Hicks was happy to hand out as usual. One thing you don’t do is to hand Panthers a 5 on 3 and particularly when David Clarke is back in the line up. Safe to say, he scored.
But one thing that strikes in the heart of me is that this season’s team do not hold the white flag, they are so hard working and that’s a trademark of a Gerad Adams. Keep working every shift and you’ll get the rewards must be the mantra, and it certainly works. Jacina was off taking a seat for slashing, and the Panthers did what we did on Clarke’s goal - temporarily switch and there was Mike Forney to get the leveler. We thought we’d scored a second shortly after, but Hicks washed it off for being kicked in: how the hell he saw that from 40 yards away I don’t know as it looked good from my vantage point in 215.
Not to be too downhearted, we came out for the second with confidence still high and that soared at 27:51 when a beautiful pass from Mathieu Roy (man, this guy is damn good) found line mate Colton Fretter all alone with not a Panther near him apart from K-Wall. Number 67 duly slipped it in between the pads to light the lamp and make it 2-1. A wonderful goal for us, but one that probably had Neilson raging on the Panthers bench - I would have gone ballistic if I had been him. Surprisingly that was the only goal in the second period.
Final period and all to play for, who would score the all-important next goal. With Schmidt having a sit down, the power play went into action for the fifth time that night and what a goal it conjured up. Roy showing smooth hands and awareness to deflect Kohn’s shot home for 3-1. Brilliant stuff, and remarkable from a team 3 players down (special praise though to Luke Ferrara who certainly showed promise). However Panthers started to bang on the doors and gave themselves a glimmer of hope (it was only that) when Clarke scored on the PP again with just 3 and half minutes left. Neilson pulled K-Wall, called a time out but that man Mosienko sealed the deal with an empty netter that reached before Steve Lee could catch it. Game, set and match Steelers. Panthers blocks started to empty as if a fire alarm had gone off, job done.
So we now have just three games left in Challenge Cup Group B, but sit proudly on top of it. A place in the quarter finals is all but confirmed, yet wouldn’t it be nice to finish with three wins out of those three left? We start as I said earlier, tonight against Hull. Hull have a new side this season and they’ve already gone to the library and won 6-1 there so shouldn’t be underestimated. Have an off night and you will get punished should be the warning that G preaches, it’s essential we continue with the good run.
Then onto Saturday and the return of Mr Goertzen albeit in a Coventry uniform. I’m sure he’ll get a very warm welcome back from us but that’s where it stops; another home win is essential. I expect it to be a tense affair if the SkyDome encounter is anything to go by, might even go to overtime again. Finally it’s off to Hull the following night and time for some chips and spice with hockey thrown in for good measure. Hey, I might come home with some cake if previous visits for me are to be taken into account. Just ask Alan (the guy behind @FrozenSteelMNL) if you don’t believe what I am saying here.
Well that concludes matters for another week. For more ramblings (some of them non hockey related), you can find me on Twitter at @hockeybhoy.
Laters,
Mark
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