Match Report: 8.11.2014 - Panthers v Steelers EC/EIHL

Saturday 8^th November 2014 – Nottingham Panthers (8-1-2) v Sheffield Steelers (8-2-0) @ National Ice Centre. Face-off: 7pm, Erhardt Conference/Elite League

Nottingham Panthers – 7
David Clarke – 1^st PP
Cody Wild – 1^st
Bruce Graham – 2^nd
Bruce Graham – 3^rd
Robert Lachowicz – 3^rd
Chris Lawrence – 3^rd
Chris Lawrence – 3^rd SHG

Sheffield Steelers – 2
Tyler Mosienko – 2^nd
Ben O’Connor – 3^rd PP

The local derby started off in a fast pace but it wasn’t to be a good night for the Steelers as they found themselves on an early penalty kill as Cullen Eddy was called for boarding but Nottingham went close before finally making it count on 2:46 when David Clarke was fed by Chris Lawrence at the right circle before the Nottingham captain fired a peach of a wrist shot past Doyle for 1-0 and before you know it was 2-0 time at 3:53 when Robert Farmer took a shot at Doyle from in front the Steelers netminder made a quality leg pad save but the puck rebounded out to Cody Wild at the point who fired into the empty net It was now that Gerad Adams took his timeout. Things could have very easily been worse for the visitors as Wild had another golden opportunity but couldn’t get his shot away but the period was massively dominated by the home side as Steelers were second to everything. Frank Doyle single handed kept the score line respectable only going into the break 2-0 down but Sheffield did have a few chances and Mattias Modig was in good form keeping out the Steelers but the period definitely belonged to the Panthers who were probably disappointed with their execution.

End of the 1st Period: Nottingham Panthers 2–0 Sheffield Steelers

Shots on Goal: Panthers 18-10 Steelers

Sheffield had to start the penalty kill on the penalty kill but straight away it was already a better performance than it was in the 1^st as Sheffield created several decent chances but Modig was in magnificent form to keep out the visitors, Sheffield was throwing everything at them including the kitchen sink when Sarich was denied by the post after firing a nicely taken one timer from the blue line but Sheffield finally broke Modig’s shutout when on 26:00 some fantastic skating and stick handling by Steelers defenceman Ben O’Connor into the Nottingham zone before he threw the puck in front and Mosienko released a back handed shot past Modig to bring the Steelers within one goal. Sheffield would very soon have a 5 on 3 powerplay chance but the visitors just couldn’t seem to find the equaliser as Modig firstly denied Mathieu Roy before then denying Forney and Fretter in quick succession but Nottingham killed the penalty and struck back straight away when at 28:58 a Steelers defenceman ended up on the Ice not sure if it was a call or not but despite that Bruce Graham skating in front of goal and fired a wrist shot past Doyle stick side to restore Nottingham’s two goal lead. It could have very easily been 4-1 but Frank Doyle denied Nottingham on the breakaway at the midway point of the game there would be chances for both teams but not more goals for either side but Sheffield would finish the second period on the man advantage and would look to capitalise at the start of the third period.
End of the 2nd Period: Nottingham Panthers 3–1 Sheffield Steelers

Shots on Goal: Panthers 12–13 Steelers

Steelers were still on the powerplay after the penalty at the end of the 2^nd period and go to work quickly and very soon made it count pulling the visitors back within one goal as Ben O’Connor scored his first Steelers goal at 40:37 and what a goal it was when he found himself in possession of the puck on the blue before firing a big slap shot through traffic and in off the post to make it a 3-2 score line. You’d think it would spur the visitors on but it did the opposite as Panthers soon got a goal back at 42:34 when Bruce Graham scored his second of the game when Lachowicz threw the puck in front of goal and Graham re-directed it past Doyle for 4-2. After some 4v4 hockey both teams were back to full strength and Nottingham struck again at 50:13 as Cullen Eddy made a mistake and Doyle attempted to come and poke check it to safety by Lachowicz beat the Steelers netminder to the puck and chipped it over him for 5-2 and just 12 seconds later it was 6-2 as Chris Lawrence saw his initial shot saved by Doyle but the rebound past him at the near post. From being well and truly in the game at 3-2 had very quickly became 6-2. The scoring as finally completed at 56:21 when Nottingham scored a shorthanded goal as Chris Lawrence who had been impressive all night skated down the right 2v1 and Sarich had gone down to block the shot but the wrist shot was brilliant taken and went in off Doyle’s post for 7-2. A bad night at the office but luckily Sheffield faces Fife at home less than 24 hours later to try and put this to bed.
Shots on Goal: Panthers 19–18 Steelers

FINAL SCORE: Nottingham Panthers 7–2 Sheffield Steelers

Boxscore (1st-2nd-3rd-OT-[PIM]-{PP}-S)

Nottingham - 2-1-4-0-[18]-{1/3}-49

Sheffield       - 0-1-1-0-[10]-{1/7}-41

Nottingham Man of the Match: #19 Robert Farmer
Sheffield Man of the Match: #67 Colton Fretter

Nottingham Points Round Up: - 17 Points
David Clarke (1+0), Robert Lachowicz (1+1), Evan Mosey (0+1), Chris Lawrence (2+1), Robert Farmer (0+3), Bruce Graham (2+0), Charles Landry (0+1), Greg Jacina (0+1), Cody Wild (1+0), Chris Higgins (0+1), Jonathan Boxill (0+1)

Sheffield Points Round Up: - 6 Points

Michael Forney (0+1), Tyler Mosienko (1+0), Colton Fretter (0+2), Ben O’Connor (1+1)

Referee: #27 Mike Hicks

Referee: #6 Matt Thompson

Linesman: #23 Lee Young

Linesman: #38 Danny Beresford

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