Last gasp Armstrong strikes against Lightning

Time for the match report against the Milton Keynes Lightning.

On Wednesday night, Steelers looked to arrest their recent dip in form with a home game at Ice Sheffield against the second of the Elite League newcomers, Milton Keynes Lightning. Lightning came into Sheffield on the back of an excellent four point weekend, and with wins already this season against Belfast and Cardiff. Steelers welcomed back both Zack Fitzgerald and Liam Kirk who missed the second of the two games against the Giants whilst Kieran Brown was also dressed for action. Defenceman Scott Aarssen who exited the home game against the Giants in the first period, did not ice. Lightning were at full strength and included former Steelers forward Ashley Tait in their team as well as former Panthers goalie Miika Wiikman who started the game in nets.

Needing a quick start, Steelers were ahead at 5:07. Defencemen Joonas Ronnberg and Mark Matheson combined and it was Colton Fretter who was on hand to tip in his sixth goal of the season in all competitions past Wiikman. However, Lightning weren't behind for long when they levelled just two and half minutes later. Quin Pompi found Ludwig Karlsson and his excellent feed set up French-Canadian Francois Verreault-Paul to light the lamp beyond Mustukovs. It was no more than the hard working visitors deserved, and less than a minute they took the lead thanks to former Manchester Storm defenceman Paul Phillips whose shot from the point found its way home.

Steelers weren't at their best but equalised at 10:38. Matt Nickerson was sitting a high sticking minor, and it was Fretter and Matheson who got the helpers on Matt Marquardt's first Steelers goal. The big number 37 getting the decisive touch out front. Lightning took the lead in the opening 53 seconds of the second period, captain Kevin King with a shot from the left wing that beat Mustukovs short side and probably one that the Steelers goaltender will want back. However the Latvian was in great form after that, and turned out away 15 more shots on as the visitors dominated the second period play and took a deserved lead going into the final twenty.

The home team knew they had to pull their collective socks up in the final period to avoid a third successive loss, and they did so although to some people's opinions: hardly convincingly. With Mustukovs denying Milton Keynes at one end, Steelers pressed on at the other end and 47:30 were back on parity. Ben O'Connor created the chance, and Armstrong poked it home past Wiikman. Referee Tom Pering had called very few penalties as the game entered it's final five minutes but then called three in the space of as many minutes. With Steelers having killed off Levi Nelson's interference minor, they were left on a 5 on 3 advantage and the powerplay clicked once more to deny Lightning a point and overtime: Armstrong picking up the pieces to score his seventh of the season and secure two much needed points.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Steelers 4 Lightning 3 

Steelers Scoring: Armstrong 2+0, Marquardt 1+1, Fretter 1+1, Matheson 0+2, Valdix 0+1, Ronnberg 0+1, O'Connor 0+1.

Lightning Scoring: Phillips 1+1, Hudson 0+2, King 1+0, Verreault-Paul 0+1, Foster 0+1, Pompi 0+1, Karlsson 0+1.

Shots On Goal: Steelers 27, Lightning 32

Powerplay: Steelers 2 from 5 (40% conversion), Lightning 0 from 2 (0% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Steelers 6, Lightning 10

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 29 Saves (163 overall), GAA: 3.00 (2.41), Save Percentage 89.70% (92.10%)

Man of the Match: John Armstrong (Steelers), Paul Phillips (Lightning)

Now for some of your thoughts:

Adrian Lee: "Just one comment. Why does it take the Steelers 45 minutes to wake up every match?"

Andy Roberts: "Great road game by MKL. They deserved a point minimum from that game, Steelers very lucky to get 2 points."

Nathan: "We looked lost for large parts of the game. No leadership or direction coming from the bench, or so it would seem. On a positive note, it was good to see Fitzgerald back and playing well."

Bryan Ibbotson: "Think the Lightning will think they deserved something out of that game; and I'll be inclined to agree with them. Great game though they played."

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