Struggling Steelers suffer in Sky Dome

Our match report from Sunday night's game in the Sky Dome, Coventry.

In the second of back to back games against Steelers travelled to the Midlands to face the Blaze. Blaze had recorded a crushing 8-2 defeat on the Steelers when the two sides faced off in pre-season but this was to be the first league meeting of the two sides in Coventry this season. Steelers iced the same roster as Saturday night, still missing Scott Aarssen and Jonas Westerling to injury but didn't dress Kieran Brown. In opposition, Blaze were unchanged from Saturday which meant another game on the sidelines for Garrett Ladd.

Both teams started off testing each other, but it was the home side who broke the deadlock at 6:27. Experienced former DEL forward Adam Courchaine getting the vital touch on a shot from the point to beat Mustukovs for his first goal in Blaze colours. About a minute and half later, Blaze were two ahead. This time it was French-Canadian Marc-Olivier Vallerand with his team leading fifth goal of the season; Brett Robinson and Czech defenceman Vojtech Kloz credited with the helpers. Before the ten minute mark was reached Steelers again found themselves three goals adrift for the third time this season already. Ben Lake scoring the goal and forcing Paul Thompson into an early time out call.

Luck was certainly favouring the Blaze as shortly after they killed a Vallerand slashing minor, Matt Marquardt hit the post twice against his old team. However, the opening twenty ended with the home side still 3-0 ahead. The Blaze continued to press and outshoot the Steelers but it took them until 34:23 to score their fourth of the night. Danick Paquette scoring it whilst Ben O'Connor took a seat, for the second time that period, with a delay of the game penalty on his record. It all got too much for Levi Nelson as the second period closed out, the forward picking up a ten minute misconduct for a few choice words in the direction of Mr Schmejkal.

Steelers were given a chance on their second powerplay in the final period but when it ain't going right then it ain't going right at all. Blaze rubbing salt into a very open wound thanks to former Fife Flyer Ryan Dingle scoring a shorthanded effort on that said man advantage. However, the travelling Steelers fans did manage to see Kevin Nastiuk's shutout bid broken at 54:20; when John Armstrong bagged his league leading eighth of the season: skipper Jonathan Phillips and Marquardt being given the assists. But that was as good as it was on the night, Steelers comfortably outshot and beaten and back to the drawing board ahead of Saturday's massive away trip to the NIC to face the Panthers.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Blaze 5 Steelers 1 

Steelers Scoring: Armstrong 1+0, J.Phillips 0+1, Marquardt 0+1.

Blaze Scoring: Courchaine 1+1, Paquette 1+1, Patterson 0+2, Lake 1+0, Dingle 1+0, Vallerand 1+0, Ahnelov 0+1, Robinson 0+1, Kloz 0+1, Bebris 0+1.

Shots On Goal: Blaze 53 Steelers 32

Powerplay: Blaze 1 from 5 (20% conversion), Steelers 0 from 2 (0% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Blaze 4 Steelers 20

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 48 Saves (244 overall), GAA: 5.00 (2.69), Save Percentage 90.60% (92.10%)

Man of the Match: Danick Paquette (Blaze), Mark Matheson (Steelers)

Now for some of your thoughts:

Robert Newbolt: "Pretty boring. No offence to speak of. Never looked like pulling goals back."

Richard J Allen: "The scoreline actually flattered us tonight."

Marvin Burke: "Offensively we aren't creating many chances. Getting penned in our own zone for long periods and it's hurting us a lot."

David Briddon: "Get him out."

Nathan: "Chose NFL tonight instead of hockey. Best choice I've made all season and one I can see being made again. Once again awful. Thompson out!"

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