Big Match Preview: Away Double Header

Welcome to the look ahead to the next Sheffield Steelers games.

After a home double header which saw the Steelers win one and lose one then crash in midweek to Cardiff, Steelers are on the road for this weekend's games. They start the weekend on a Saturday with the short trip to the following:

Hello again Nottingham! It's only been the best part of just seven days since we played you last and what a game that is. If you left the Arena early last Saturday then you missed a dramatic conclusion. However, since then both sides have had differing fortunes and lie uncomfortably in mid-table which for both fan bases is not really acceptable. Both sides are playing for a decent end to the season which hopefully will give them a decent shot at the end of season play-off quarter finals as their respective title dreams are just that, dreams.

This game could end up with euphoria for the Steelers fans present in the NIC, or it could be another horror show. Both coaches are under pressure, someone is going to be disappointed at the end.

After Saturday's game, it's a lengthy road trip down south for the Steelers as they make their second trip of the season to one of this season's surprise packets:

A visit to Surrey and the Guildford Flames. Steelers have had the best of both games so far, scoring seven goals in each encounter and winning them. Yet Flames are a team that you can't discount on those results, they are fifth in the table and are capable beating anyone on their day if you give them the chance. Former NHL draft pick Chris Carrozzi has been a great replacement for Brian Stewart, so much so that now fit-again Stewart can't get a game. Calle Ackered and Jesse Craige are the leading two points defencemen in the league whilst they also have former Steelers power forward Geoff Walker in their forward line. They have to be treated with respect.

My predictions? The Bears to take Saturday 4-2 and the Flames to edge Sunday 3-2 (maybe beyond regulation time). The misery I fear is going to continue; much as it pains me to say so. What do you think?

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Big Match Preview: Home Double Header

Welcome to the preview of this weekend's games for the Steelers.

This weekend sees the Steelers play both matches at home in a rare home double header. With the team in good form, they can feel reasonably confident that a four point weekend is within their reach. They start the weekend on Saturday night against this side:

Yes it's the nearest and dearest back in town, the Nottingham Panthers. Panthers started the season brilliant, leading the title race and making the last 16 of the Champions Hockey League but they've mixed the sublime with the awful since then and currently are in an uncharacteristic 7th place in the overall standings going into the game on Saturday night. Steelers will obviously fancy heaping more misery on Corey Neilson's team having recorded back-to-back triumphs over them in the festive period. But that was then, Saturday could be totally different.

Their roster doesn't scream panic, it's just been damn inconsistent. They have a quality netminder in Patrick Galbraith, the offensive talents of Yann Sauve and goals from Brett Perlini and Mark Derlago not to mention GB internationalists Robert Farmer and Evan Mosey. Mathieu Gagnon provides the beef. A solid performance from Paul Thompson's men is again required to see off the Panthers. We can't afford to take the night off and think the game is already won.

Sunday night, and game two of the weekend sees the return of this team and they haven't had far to travel to come to S9:

It's the Maaannnchester Storm, a team we seem to be building up a decent rivalry with at the moment. Games are very eventful these with the Storm proving to be a typical blue collar Ryan Finnerty roster, combining a bit of skill with a fair bit of brawn. It'll be feisty for sure, and expect a few penalties to be shared between the two sides. They have some quality in Matt Beca and Mike Hammond, but players like captain Jay Rosehill, former NHLer Dane Byers and defenceman Linden Springer won't think twice about roughing it up as they aim to put the Steelers off their game. Discipline is going to be on point.

All in all, it promises to be an appetising weekend of hockey in the House Of Steel.

My predictions? Steelers to see off the Bears 4-2 on Saturday, and then complete a four point weekend by defeating the Storm in a tough 3-1 encounter on the Sunday. What do you think?

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Split Weekend for Steelers in Belfast

Welcome to the match report of the double header weekend in Belfast as the Steelers travelled to the Northern Irish capital. I've decided to encompass both games into one article so apologies in advance if it looks bit squashed.

After building up some excellent form either side of the Christmas and New Year period, Steelers quietly fancied their chances when locking horns with a team that has had their number all season so far. Bar John Armstrong who was out with injury, Steelers started game one with a full strength roster which meant a debut for new import Eric Neiley. Giants on the other hand were still short on numbers and were without the injured trio of Stephen Murphy, Mark Garside and Dustin Johner. It was also the first time that Spiro Goulakos and Steelers Colton Fretter had faced each other in action since that infamous game back in late October.

In fact it took only 54 seconds before the two protagonists faced off each again, definitely hinting at some bad blood between them. Goulakos adding more minutes to his record with 17 minutes alone from that particular clash. In fact, the first period was quite a penalty strewn one with 38 minutes handed out, but we did have a goal in it though. Neiley skating down the wing for new line-mate Matt Marquardt to latch onto his pass, and despite Jackson Whistle saving the initial effort: the big fella pocketed the second chance for his 15th of the season.

There was no let up in the penalty minutes in the second period either. Giants levelled the score at 31:29 when a shot from Goulakos struck the post but fell kindly for team-mate Steve Saviano to tap the loose puck home. Yet Steelers struck next, and it came shorthanded. With Neiley in the box for hooking, Andreas Jämtin carved his way through the home side and again although Whistle saved the first effort: there was nothing he could do to stop Mark Matheson snaffling up the rebound for the defenceman's 7th of the season. Then came another flashpoint, Zack Fitzgerald catching Goulakos up high but too high in the eyes of the officials and getting a match penalty for an illegal check to the head. With 23 seconds left in the period, Steelers extended it to 3-1 when another rebound fell kindly and Jämtin scored his 6th of the season.

Giants knew they needed to push on and get back into it, and reduced the arrears just over five minutes into the final period. From a tight angle, David Rutherford was on hand to light the lamp and give his team hope. Chances came and went for both sides after that and more penalties got called too. Neiley dropping the gloves with Giants Ryan Martinelli, then whilst looking for the game tying goal Giants suffered more indiscipline in the last 23 seconds. First of all Goulakos got himself ejected for an illegal check to the head on Tim Wallace, taking his personal penalty count to 42 minutes in game one, and then less than 13 seconds left Sebastian Sylvestre let his emotions get the better off him and also went for an early shower. Steelers held on after that, and took game one by 3-2.

Game two, and would it be as interesting and eventful as Friday. The answer was yes. Both teams showed changes from Friday, Steelers missing Fitzgerald as he served game one of a four game suspension for his clash with Goulakos whilst Giants iced Jeff Mason and Steven Eccles as Brandon Benedict sat out and both Goulakos and Sylvestre were suspended. Unfortunately as much as Giants had been indisciplined more on Friday, Steelers suffered the same fate on the Saturday. Just before the 6 minute mark Jämtin turned from Friday's hero to Saturday's villain as he was sent for a very early shower for cross checking Rutherford after being penalised for a hook on the same player. This put the Giants on a massive seven minute powerplay! Less than two minutes into it, who else but Colin Shields opened the scoring. 21 seconds later, it became 2-0 with Rutherford on the scoresheet.

A third goal arrived just before the 13 minute mark, Jonathan Ferland lighting the lamp a second after Steelers had seen off the two minute minor part of a 2+10 checking from behind issued to Miika Franssila. The game was put beyond the visitors just before the halfway stage in the contest, Rutherford scoring his second of the night and third of the two game series with a neat finish. Could Steelers salvage any pride? Well they kept at it, and broke Whistle's shutout bid at 47:14. With Giants Cole Jarrett sitting for slashing, Steelers worked the puck back from a face off and Ben O'Connor zinged home a fizzer for 4-1; his 9th of the season. Yet Giants had the last word with just over a minute to go, that man Shields scoring once more after a loose puck landed conveniently for him.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Game 1 -  Giants 2 Steelers 3, Game 2 - Giants 5 Steelers 1 

Steelers Scoring: Game 1 - Jämtin 1+1, Matheson 1+1, Marquardt 1+0, Wallace 0+1, Neiley 0+1. Game 2 - O'Connor 1+0, Valdix 0+1, Marquardt 0+1.

Giants Scoring: Game 1 - Saviano 1+0, Rutherford 1+0, Goulakos 0+1, Murphy 0+1, Ferland 0+1, Riley 0+1. Game 2 - Shields 2+1, Connolly 0+3, Rutherford 2+0, Riley 0+2, Ferland 1+0, Jarrett 0+1, Vandermeer 0+1, Saviano 0+1, Murphy 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Game 1 - Giants 31 Steelers 50. Game 2 - Giants 58 Steelers 31.

Powerplay: Overall - Steelers 1 from 15 (7% conversion), Giants 2 from 19 (11% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Game 1 - Giants 89 Steelers 49 , Game 2 - Giants 18 Steelers 61.

Steelers Goaltender Stats: (Initial figures are both games combined) Mustukovs 82 Saves (866), GAA: 3.50 (2.24), Save Percentage: 82.80% (92.20%).

Man of the Match: Game 1 - Andreas Jämtin (Steelers), Jonathan Ferland (Giants). Game 2 - Mark Matheson (Steelers), Colin Shields (Giants).

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Big Match Preview: Belfast (Away Double Header)

Welcome one and all to the next preview of the upcoming Steelers games.

The team are in a bit of form at present, which is something we have been waiting to happen for quite a while and is welcomed by us all. Five wins in our last five games, four in regulation and one in a thriller on New Year's Day at Altrincham where we saw off the hosting Storm 6-5 after a penalty shootout.

We now turn our attentions to another double header, however both of this games are on the road and in the air as well as we make the trip across the water to face this team:

It's a team that have had our number all season this year; a stark comparison to some previous ones when we have taken their scalp home and away constantly. Steelers are yet win either in the "O" or at the House Of Steel against Adam Keefe's team. The current record in the match ups this season currently lies at played four and lost four if you're a Steelers supporter. See what I mean by saying they have had our number all season? Surely this weekend will see the boys redress the balance...

The games so far have had a bit of feistiness and part of that can be attributed to the Fretter-Goulakos incident which saw Colton get a six game ban and Goulakos, in my eyes and plenty others too, lightly with just two. Safe to say once Goulakos' name is read out on Friday evening I'm not expecting the defenceman to get a massive round of applause and cheers from the members of the Orange Army present in the Northern Irish capital. I can expect jeers a plenty.

Steelers and Belfast will be looking to win both games, a split series will do neither team any good as they chase down the again runaway leaders Cardiff - who are looking good candidates to record back-to-back league titles. Giants lie in second spot six points behind the Devils having played the same amount of games, and Steelers one place further back with a deficit of eight points but having played one more game. A four point weekend for either and the Devils slipping up in their games at Guildford and at home to the Bears respectively; would make it very interesting at the top. Steelers need to continue in their rich seam of form but it won't be easy especially if Colin Shields is about...

My predictions? Steelers to take game one 3-2 after overtime/shootout and then to win game two 4-2 to build on their foundations in the league chase and set themselves up well for the upcoming Continental Cup Super Final in Belarus which we will of course preview next week. How do you see them unfolding? Let us know...

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Big Match Preview: Nottingham and Manchester

Welcome to a preview for the Christmas and New Year games for the Steelers.

After turkey, tinsel and the odd tot of sherry, Steelers are back in action for four games which could really make or break their season. They start off these with games on Boxing Day and the day after with the opposition being provided by this team:

Yes it's those Bears! The very same Bears whom I said were unstoppable before this month began. However, the wheels have started to fall off and dramatically too so much so that they roll into Sheffield in fourth place and six points behind leaders Cardiff. They have a couple of matches in hand, but as you know you've got to win them. We can imagine that they will hurting come 4pm on Boxing Day, and this is a similar scenario to last season. Steelers know winning both games will really put a massive dent in their biggest rivals title bid whilst giving them a faint chance that they can get closer to those at the top of the table.

Another double header comes either side of the New Year, as we face another tough couple of assignments in the following:

Yes it's Finner's Storm! Storm started the season with an absolute bang, leading it for a number of weeks too. But they slipped off the radar for a while. However, the roster that they have is packed with talent and ability. Former Braehead forwards Mike Hammond, Matt Beca and Scott Pitt are capable of taking any team apart giving half the chance. Games between Steelers and Storm have been feisty and physical affairs so we don't expect anything different in this double header. It promises to be a post-Christmas Cracker double header, games that you want to be at.

My predictions? Steelers to beat Panthers 4-2 on Boxing Day but slip to a 3-1 loss the day after in the NIC. As for the Manchester games, Steelers to take the Arena game 5-2, and to win in Altrincham on New Year's Day with a 3-2 overtime triumph. How do you see them unfolding?

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Sylvestre seals win in a Belfast battle royal

Here is the match report of Sunday's game in the Arena against the Belfast Giants.

Steelers were hoping to complete inter-conference four point weekend when they entertained the Belfast Giants on Sunday evening. Giants had won the previous two encounters this season and despite their injury woes, had a roster capable of making it three. For Steelers, they were unchanged from the impressive 4-0 win against Cardiff on Saturday which meant the home crowd had to wait that bit longer for the debut of new signing Andre Deveaux. Brady Ramsay sat out again as a healthy scratch. For Giants, they were missing defencemen Cole Jarrett, Kevin Raine and Jim Vandermeer, netminder Stephen Murphy, and forward Dustin Johner. Coach Adam Keefe laced the skates to help plug the gaps.

The home side came out with the same confidence that had seen them win last night, Colton Fretter forcing a save out of Jackson Whistle in the first ten seconds. It was a chippy affair from the start, and midway through the period Steelers went on a 5 on 3 when Brendan Connolly and Ryan Martinelli received minors within ten seconds of each other. At 12:20 Steelers made the two man advantage pay, Mark Matheson's shot getting a tip off out in front by the King himself and the water bottle went airborne. Spiro Goulakos was already making a nuisance of himself, more of which to come later, and picked up a 2+10 for a deliberate check from behind on Levi Nelson which absolutely Fitzy enraged. From the resultant powerplay, Steelers clicked again. Ben O'Connor found Fretter and his pass across the crease found John Armstrong at the back step to arrow a shot into the opposite top corner.

Then it really boiled over. Connolly cross-checked Fitzy and obviously Fitzy gave him a bit of something back. However, referee Mr Hicks saw Fitzy's actions more aggressive and decided to bin the Steelers talisman on a 5 plus game for hi-sticks which looked a bit excessive and left the Steelers down to four recognised defencemen. Scott Aarssen soon followed in the penalty box and either side of the period break saw Steelers on a massive penalty kill. Credit where it is due, Steelers killed it with immense pride which lifted the crowd enormously. But with only four defencemen, Steelers blue line were going to log some serious minutes and Giants racked it up knowing that. Yet in that second period, Steelers only conceded once and it was a bullet of a shot from Jonathan Ferland that beat Ervins Mustukovs despite Hicks looking on game time technology.

Could Steelers hold on for one last period? Well that thought ended less than a minute in the final twenty when who else but Colin Shields pounced on a loose puck and hammered it home. Giants then took the lead at 46:54, Goulakos with a howitzer of his own that flew in. The Giants defenceman then caused the next incident with another questionable hit on Fretter which caused the Steelers winger to see red rag to a bull and go after the Giant. Mr Hicks decided to bin the Steeler on a 5 plus game for checking from behind, and then after a long deliberation sent Goulakos packing too on a kicking match penalty which was when seen, one of the most vile acts I've ever seen in recent seasons at the Arena. The incident lifted the Arena, and it lifted also the Steelers and after some serious pressure, Matheson found space and crashed a sweet shot beyond Whistle for 3-3. It was then anyone's game, and it was going to take one mistake to cost his side. Unfortunately Steelers saw it fall on the wrong side as Andreas Valdix picked up a hooking minor with just under five minutes left. Some zippy passing ended up with Sebastian Sylvestre netting a cool finish as Mustukovs tried to get back. Steelers tried to push again but ran out of time, Giants securing a third win in as many meetings.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Steelers 3 Giants 4

Steelers Scoring: Roy 1+1, Matheson 1+1, O'Connor 0+2, Armstrong 1+0, Jämtin 0+1, Fretter 0+1.

Giants Scoring: Sylvestre 1+1, Riley 0+2, Goulakos 1+0, Shields 1+0, Ferland 1+0, Saviano 0+1, D.Murphy 0+1, Connolly 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Steelers 32 Giants 29

Powerplay: Steelers 2 from 5 (40% conversion), Giants 1 from 5 (20% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Steelers 58 Giants 47

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 25 Saves (357), GAA: 4.09 (2.41), Save Percentage 86.20% (92%)

Man of the Match: Jonathan Phillips (Steelers), Colin Shields (Giants)

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