So after the long trip down to the Big Blue Tent, it's back on home "ice" on Sunday and what a potential barn burner this promises to be. Visiting Sheffield are none other than the Braehead Clan, and one can wonder if we are going to get another goal fest like we did in Renfrew last Saturday or a much more closer encounter? The game is being played at Ice Sheffield due to Disney On Ice taking over the Arena but can Steelers make it two home wins on the spin?
Braehead, a tricky opponent right?
Definitely a very tricky opponent in all aspects of the game. They have not had the best starts to the season, and currently lie at the foot of their Conference which they were expected to run away and dominate. That won't please Finner one iota and neither will a position of seventh in the EIHL standings at the moment. Finner demands better and will have made this crystal clear after a bad weekend just gone when the penalty shot point was all that the Clan gained.
Chris Holt is a goalie with real pedigree but on Saturday night, looked like the proverbial rabbit in headlights. And that was from the first shot fired on him by Steelers, he did not look at all comfortable all evening. It was like he didn't want to be there and would have preferred to have stayed at home to watch that tosh known as The X-Factor with a munchy box and crate of Tennents at the side. Easy saves were made hard and he missed the sight of too many pucks. As for his effort in the shootout, that was just pitiful.
What Braehead do have is offence, and plenty of it. Brendan Brooks really impressed me on Saturday night, that guy has got some serious jets for someone who is 36 years of age, and he knows how to light the lamp too. But there's also former Steeler Stefan Meyer, Scott Pitt and are led by example by Matt Keith. That's just four names, need I go on? They will be equally as tough as anyone we will face this season.
But can we make it two home wins in a row?
Of course we can, that goes without question. But once again we have to play with one import down after DOPS ruled a two game suspension on Fitzy for that contact with Mr Lord. I personally thought it was harsh but then again I'm not the one making the call and I'm certainly not DOPS either. Hopefully those who thought we rule DOPS might want to revise their thoughts now after the Fitzgerald decision. But that's a subject that will never ever go away.
Tyler Mosienko will be back in the line up and with Mike Duco released today, it probably means another shake up the lines for PT. However it does pinpoint that Chris Lawrence will be staying until the end of the season although nothing has yet been officially confirmed as such. Marek Pinc was brilliant Wednesday, and if he can reproduce that kind of stellar performance against Clan (and of course the night before in Cardiff) then even with five defencemen in front of him then we will always stand a chance to win.
But isn't it good to have Colton Fretter back in action? The guy is absolute quality, and just like the afore mentioned Mosienko, he makes things happen around him. We are so honoured to have them. I am sure Mathieu Roy will appreciate having him back too, those two click as if they were twins. Another solid performance is needed.
Prediction Time then?
I seriously don't think we are going to get another goalfest like we did in Braehead, that was just an absolute one off. It's going to be close and Steelers will have to produce another backs to the wall performance to get something out of this particularly with icing just five defencemen. But we didn't think they would get anything on Wednesday night and they delivered two precious points. Can they do this again? Yes is the answer.
Even without Fitzy, we can make this two home wins on the spin. I'm going for Steelers to win this one 4-2. How's about that?
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