Saturday night is hockey night on Hallowe'en, and Steelers make the trip down the M1 to face old adversaries Nottingham in the NIC. Will Paul Thompson's men spook their hosts and come away with two vital league points or will it be Corey Neilson's men who do the haunting. Let's look ahead to the game in question.
Last Meeting: Steelers
last trip to the fabulous NIC came just a couple of weeks ago in
Challenge Cup action. That's how quick these fixtures come around.
Stephen Schultz gave the Panthers an early lead but after that
Thompson's men grew into the game and took it to their hosts. Mathieu
Roy's 8th of the season on the powerplay ensured a shared first period
but the second was all about the visitors offence as Miika Wiikman was
forced into making save after save. The one that did get by him was a
superb effort by the evergreen Rod Sarich which was just sheer class.
When
Bryan Schmidt levelled matters up, most would have thought that
Panthers would go on and dominate the third period and Steelers would
crumble under pressure. However, Thompson's men are made of stern stuff
and as it happened Panthers fell foul of the old boy haunting. Step
forward Chris Lawrence, the man jettisoned by the Blaze, who last season
wore the Panthers black and gold. Number 18 came up trumps for Mr
Thompson and sent the large away following home with delight. Dare he
repeat the dose?
The Players To Watch: Miika
Wiikman (Panthers) - Corey Neilson needed a goalie to fill the void
left by K-Wall, and those were big skates to fill. However, the Swede
has proved to be an inspirational signing it has to be said and his
statistics tell their own story. Just like his predecessor, Wiikman is
giving the Panthers a chance to win each night. If he is in top form,
Steelers will need that bit extra to make it two wins out of two in the
Lace City so far this season.
Robert
Dowd (Steelers) - Steelers premier Brit, and no disrespect meant to
Jono, Hewy, Luke and Ben. Dowdy is a game changer when he is on it, he
makes things happen around him. Not afraid to go where others fear to
go, Dowdy can score as good as Roy and hit opponents like a freight
train. After missing seven games with a wrist injury, Robbie returned
back to the line-up in Wednesday's 4-1 win at Altrincham and by all
accounts; was his usual energetic self. Paul Thompson must be glad he
coaches him rather than having him in opposition it has to be said.
Prediction: Both sides scored four on Wednesday night and picked up valuable points of their own. However. Panthers resources were stretched further when key forward Stephen Schultz was injured in the final minute of regulation play with the NIC medical teams coming under fire for their lack of urgency in dealing with it. Panthers will be missing Geoff Waugh from the blueline and Brit Robert Farmer but Rob Lachowicz should be in the line up.
Steelers are definitely missing Colton Fretter (hernia) but will be at full strength otherwise. Tyler Plante was rested on Wednesday night, and whilst back-up Brad Day had a fantastic game in Altrincham, the former NHL draft pick will be back between the pipes on Hallowe'en night. Paul Thompson will be keen to see his side continue racking up numbers in the win column, and rising up the Elite League standings.
Score Prediction? I'm going for us to win in the NIC again, this time after overtime with 3-2 being the scoreline in question.
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