Steelers in seventh heaven in away romp

On Sunday night, the Steelers made their first Elite League visit to the Spectrum in Guildford to take on one of the EIHL new boys. Here's our match report.

After losing in such heartbreaking circumstances on Saturday at home to Cardiff, Steelers made the trip to Guildford still missing Zack Fitzgerald and Matt Marquardt. Flames had beaten Cardiff just seven days before this game, 8-4, with forward Ian Watters taking the major plaudits with a hat-trick that night. They were missing Brett Ferguson, Charles Wells and Kruise hich meant that former Coventry Blaze netminder Brian Stewart was in between the pipes. Would Steelers bounce back with a win or would the newcomers claim another scalp on their home ice?

Steelers were focused from the first puck drop, determined not to repeat the loss experienced by the Devils. This was justified as early as 1:45 into the game when the powerplay went to work. Flames Rhett Rachinski was sitting a hooking minor, and it was Robert Dowd who lit the lamp from the angle with assists to Ben O'Connor and his line mate Levi Nelson. They killed a bench minor for too many men but at 10:55 doubled their lead when giant defenceman Joonas Ronnberg barrelled his way through the Flames defence to net past Stewart even if the EIHL sheet says captain Jono. Seconds later, Brady Ramsay and Flames Andy McKinney had a tilt. Both got 5 minutes for fighting majors and an additional 10 from referee Tom Darnell for removing their helmets prior to the scrap. A hugely impressive opening twenty saw the boys score a third at 16:21, John Armstrong this time on the scoresheet with Mathieu Roy picking up the sole assist.

The second began with an early goal too. Swedish forward David Lillestrom-Karlsson finding the net for the Flames and giving his team a flicker of hope. Yet a shade over three minutes later, Steelers restored their three goal lead when Roy and Tim Wallace set up Colton Fretter on the powerplay whilst Calle Ackered sat a tripping minor. Nelson and Mikael Lidhammar both sat minors after that goal; which neither side could take advantage of before it became 5-1 at 33:56: Dowd scoring his second of the night and Nelson with his second assist of the night. Wallace sat an elbowing minor three minutes after but Steelers penalty kill saw that off and the score remained at 5-1 at the end of the second.

Just like the opening two periods, the third and final period had another early marker and it was Steelers with their sixth of the night. Brian Stewart, who was doing a decent job keeping the score below double figures, was penalised for a trip and on the resultant powerplay John Armstrong scored his fourth goal of the weekend at 41:55. Assists went to Roy (his third of the night) and O'Connor (his second). The scoring was complete at 51:47 when the fourth line came up with a goal. Ramsay and Phillips provided the helpers, Liam Kirk scoring past Stewart. All in all, a good night's work for Paul Thompson's men.

Now for the statistics:

Goals: Steelers 7 Flames 1

Steelers Scoring:  Roy 0+3, Dowd 2+0, Armstrong 2+0, Ramsay 0+2, Nelson 0+2, O'Connor 0+2, Kirk 1+0, Ronnberg 1+0, Fretter 1+0, J Phillips 0+1, Wallace 0+1, Matheson 0+1.

Flames Scoring: Lillestrom-Karlsson 1+0, Dunbar 0+1, Ackered 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Steelers 45, Flames 33

Powerplay: Steelers 3 from 6 (50% conversion), Flames 0 from 5 (0% conversion)

Penalty Minutes Called: Steelers 25, Flames 27

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 32 Saves (52), GAA: 1.00 (2.41), Save Percentage 97.00% (91.20%)

Man of the Match: Tim Wallace (Steelers), Ben Davies (Guildford)

Now for your thoughts:

Tina: "Some fans need to stop chirping at certain players and get behind them all now. Early days to be throwing players off a cliff."

Daniella West (Flames supporter): "It was a good game. Sheffield were the better team on the night and they fully deserved the win, and the two points."

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