Semi Final for Steelers as Stars sent packing

Welcome to our main match report from last night's Challenge Cup game against the Dundee Stars.

On a rare Tuesday night, the Steelers played their quarter-final second leg against the Dundee Stars. Steelers had taken a massive step towards clinching a semi-final berth with a 7-2 win in Tayside last week, but were looking to pick themselves up after a zero point weekend in the league. The team news saw Steelers not ice either Levi Nelson nor Kieran Brown. Cole Shudra started off in defence and defenceman Mark Matheson iced as a centre. Ervins Mustukovs started off the game in between the pipes. Omar Pacha's side were without Cameron McGiffin and Taylor Dickin who both left the club on Monday, as well as former Steeler Chris Lawrence and Swede Johan Andersson.

Steelers controlled the game from start to finish but some stubborn resistance from the Stars meant the deadlock remained unbroken until two and half minutes before the end of the second period; but what a goal it was though. Some absolutely ridiculous skill from new Finnish defenceman Miika Franssila saw him scythe his way through the Stars defence like a knife through hot butter; and then leave Travis Fullerton floundering before tucking the puck into the empty net for his first ever Steelers goal. A goal of the season candidate already. Prior to that we had a fight, Robert Dowd went through with a check that Anthony Mastrodicasa took exception to. Someone should have told Mastrodicasa that Dowd is not to be messed with, the former's team mate Riley Stadel knows this, and in the resultant scrap Dowdy again took charge.

The second goal came with just 14 seconds of the same second period left, Matt Marquardt finishing off a great move created by Dowd and Liam Kirk to score his 12th of the season. That made it 9-2 on aggregate and you couldn't see any further way back into the tie for the visitors. The final period saw Steelers give Mustukovs the rest of the night off as Brad Day was given some much welcomed ice time. It became 3-0 on the night just 73 seconds into the final twenty, Marquardt scoring his second of the game and 13th of the season on a breakaway after Andreas Jämtin had carved open the Stars defence. At 44:29 the lead was extended further when a wrister from Zack Fitzgerald (still playing with a face guard) found it's way home but it was one that Fullerton would be embarrassed to see over and over again. It was Fitzy's first of the season.

That Fitzgerald goal was also to spell the end of Fullerton's night as he made way for Craig Holland who would ice for the remaining 15 and a half minutes. Steelers obviously sensed more goals were to come and added their fifth at 47:18. Mastrodicasa was serving a slashing minor and just 11 seconds into that powerplay, Ben O'Connor put one on goal and Mathieu Roy in his usual position got the decisive tip to defeat Holland. It was the King's 10th of the season. A sixth came before 50 minutes play, a left shot from left circle by O'Connor eluded Holland and found its way in. Benny's seventh of the season. As the game petered out, we had a second fight of the night - Pacha rubbing up Colton Fretter the wrong way and getting a taste of his own medicine. Stars did however score the final goal of the tie, just like they did with the first, Justin Fox with a nice finish with 76 seconds left in the game to ruin the double shutout.

So Steelers advance 13-2 on aggregate, and now await the winners of the Cardiff-Guildford quarter final.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Steelers 6 Stars 1 

Steelers Scoring: Westerling 0+3, Marquardt 2+0, Roy 1+1, O'Connor 1+1, Matheson 0+2, Franssila 1+0, Fitzgerald 1+0, Aarssen 0+1, Jämtin 0+1, Kirk 0+1, Dowd 0+1.
Stars Scoring: Fox 1+0, Mimar 0+1, Lévesque 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Steelers 39 Stars 15

Powerplay: Steelers 1 from 4 (25% conversion), Stars 0 from 5 (0% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Steelers 22 Stars 40

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 13 Saves (186), GAA: 0.00 (2.25), Save Percentage: 100.00% (92.50%). Day 1 Save (33), GAA: 3.00 (2.18), Save Percentage: 50.00% (91.70%)

Man of the Match: Matt Marquardt (Steelers), Justin Fox (Stars)

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Big Match Preview: Dundee (Home)

Welcome to the Big Match Preview of the next Steelers game.

It's midweek hockey in Sheffield, and a £5.00 hockey game too. Steelers look to put their zero point weekend behind them as it's the second leg of the Challenge Cup quarter-final. That means that this team are in town:

Yes for the sixth time this season already, we face Omar Pacha and his Dundee Stars. For those who have been asleep for a bit, Steelers played the first leg in Tayside last Wednesday and skated away with a 7-2 advantage. That after being just 3-2 ahead with just one period to play, it also saw Davey Phillips score twice (yes you read that correctly) for his first goals of the season. It's a margin that Steelers should not relinquish and a semi-final berth beckons.

Stars have had at best, a season that promised so much but fallen flat a lot of the time. They will definitely be without Taylor Dickin, who was released today, and defenceman Cameron McGiffin who has hung the skates up to take up a job outside of hockey. Pacha will probably have to continue icing himself, as he still looks to record his first ever triumph over the Steelers since he first came to these shores in 2013 when he joined the Hull Stingrays. This will be his 25th attempt!

With the tie almost done and dusted, we expect the youngsters might get a fair bit of ice time which could give the likes of Brad Day, Cole Shudra and Liam Kirk plenty of time to shine. If Kieran Brown is fit, expect him to feature at some point. It would make sense. But with Steelers not in good league form, will Thompson risk the temptation and give some of his underachieving regular roster further shots at redemption? That's the flip side of the coin.

My prediction? Steelers to make the semi-final and to complete back to back wins in this quarter-final. Scoreline: Steelers to win 5-2 on the night, thereby finishing the tie 12-4 on the aggregate score. How do you see it unfold?

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Davey at the double for Steelers in Dundee

Welcome to our match report from last night's Challenge Cup quarter final first leg game in Dundee.

After losing another Erhardt Conference game on Sunday, Steelers players were in proverbial hot water post game as head coach Paul Thompson gave them the old Alex Ferguson hairdryer treatment. He even cancelled their day off the following day. The next game in the schedule involved yet another midweek trip to Scotland and Tayside again as they locked horns once more with Omar Pacha and his Dundee Stars side. Dundee were Steelers' "pick" of quarter final opponents when the draw, and it represented another chance to extend the run against the Stars coach.

Team news saw the same Steelers side that lost to Belfast, although defenceman Zack Fitzgerald had started his recovery - Thompson didn't risk the stalwart. Dundee have had injuries galore all season and were still short benched for this game, former Steeler Chris Lawrence, Johan Andersson and Anthony Mastrodicasa were injured whilst Ben Edmonds was on GB Under 20 duty in Dumfries alongside Steelers duo Liam Kirk and Cole Shudra.

Looking to give themselves the best possible chance of making the semi-final, Steelers started with urgency and within five seconds of the initial puck drop, Stars netminder Travis Fullerton was forced into his first save of the night. The pressure continued and the deadlock was almost broken when Robert Dowd picked up a rebound but saw his effort find the pipework. Little had been seen from the home side but the home support in a very sparse crowd of 400 were cheering at 13:47, Jordan Cownie (he who had an ill-fated spell at Braehead) lighting the lamp via a deflection of sorts off Mark Matheson. Just over two minutes later Steelers levelled whilst on a 5 on 3 powerplay as Cameron McGiffin and Riley Stadel both served minors, Colton Fretter the scorer with a one timer that beat Fullerton short side for the Canadian's 12th of the season. 39 seconds later, whilst on the 5 on 4 now, Steelers scored again. Andreas Valdix given time by the generous Stars defence to pick his spot and fire home his 8th of the season over the blocker of the netminder.

The period ended 2-1 in the Steelers favour, and both teams came out for the second equally content to test the other. It was going to be a case of who scored next, and thankfully for the Steelers it was a third unanswered goal at 27:31. Some great team play had Dundee all over the proverbial shop before Ben O'Connor provided the magic and sniped it home for his 6th of the season. Back came the Stars, not showing signs they were ready to roll over, and they made it a one goal hockey game with just over four minutes left in the middle period. Former Edinburgh and Manchester forward Taylor Dickin showing good skills of his own before depositing the puck beyond Ervins Mustukovs. Mustukovs then ensured the lead would stay intact at the second period as he denied the home side on three separate occasions.

It promised to be an crucial third period, and Mustukovs was again at in the early stages of it to keep the lead in place before Steelers opened up the two goal margin again with just under four minutes play in that period. Good play by John Armstrong and Dowd saw the latter set up Davey Phillips of all people and Shaggy lit the lamp for his first of the season abetted by a post. The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Dundee as less than a minute later Levi Nelson got on the scoresheet with an effort that again beat Fullerton over his blocker for 5-2, the winger's 10th of the season. However, we had to wait until 57:19 before Steelers added a sixth. Shaggy with a floater that somehow found it's way home, which begs the question: who was giving him the Scooby Snacks as two goal games aren't usually the Beverley-born blueliner's forte. The scoring was complete at 58:13, Matt Marquardt down the wing and then finishing past the Stars goalie for 7-2; and a 11th goal of the season.

So it ended 7-2 on the night, and Steelers have taken a massive step to making the final four. Only a comeback that even Lazarus would be proud of from the Stars can deny them it; the winners to face either Fife or Cardiff in the New Year.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Stars 2 Steelers 7

Steelers Scoring:  Nelson 1+2, Dowd 0+3, D.Phillips 2+0, O'Connor 1+1, Armstrong 0+2, Westerling 0+2, Valdix 1+0, Marquardt 1+0, Fretter 1+0, J.Phillips 0+1, Matheson 0+1.

Stars Scoring: De Concilys 0+2, Cownie 1+0, Dickin 1+0, Jensen 0+1, Gould 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Stars 22 Steelers 38

Powerplay: Steelers 2 from 5 (40% conversion), Stars 1 from 6 (17% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Stars 10 Steelers 12

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 20 Saves (173), GAA: 2.00 (2.50), Save Percentage 90.90% (92.00%)

Man of the Match: Levi Nelson (Steelers), Jordan Cownie (Stars)

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Big Match Preview: Dundee (Away)

Welcome to the preview of the midweek game for the Steelers.

Tomorrow night sees the Steelers on the road, and icy roads at that, as they play their quarter final first leg game away to these guys:

Yes it's dear old Omar and his Stars. Steelers have had the upper hand in the games between the two sides this season, winning all four games. However tomorrow night is a Cup game and as we know all too well in other sports, form counts absolutely nothing when it comes to Cup competitions. Steelers need to avoid complacency and turn in a professional performance to take into the second leg at the House Of Steel next Tuesday night. They don't want to go into the return having to recover from a deficit of more than one goal.

Dundee have been very much below standards to previous campaigns, but they are capable to win. I mean just ask Manchester last Sunday. We reckon Omar might have enjoyed that one. He's still looking for his first win in 23 going into tomorrow, here's hoping the dismal record continues.

My prediction? Steelers will have to battle for this one but they'll get over the line. A 4-2 road win in Tayside please.

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Steelers sweep the Stars

Welcome to the report from Wednesday night's game at Dundee.

After seeing off Coventry 3-1 on Sunday, Steelers undertook a lengthy midweek road trip to Tayside to face Omar Pacha and his short benched Dundee Stars team. Steelers were without Zack Fitzgerald who suffered a serious facial injury in the Coventry win, and Andre Deveaux who had been released by the Club 24 hours later. Brady Ramsay came back into the starting line up. Fitzgerald's absence also covered the first of the six games that the Steelers were having to play an import short following a decision by the new EIHL DoPS on Deveaux. Stars were, as stated earlier short benched, and were missing Adam Harding, Justin Fox, Jordan Cownie, Chris Lawrence, Jimmy Jensen and Anthony Mastrodicasa.

The first period was a close affair as the teams shared 27 shots on goal between them, but only one counted. That came at 12:05 when Travis Fullerton in the home goal dropped the puck right at the skates of Robert Dowd who must have thought Christmas had come early, and fired in his 12th goal of the season in all competitions. Assists on the goal going where else but to his line mates Levi Nelson and Andreas Valdix.

Period two was a less frenetic but Steelers took the game away from their hosts; scoring on four of their seven shots on Fullerton to finish 40 minutes game play 5-0 ahead. Two goals in the space of 23 seconds early in the period did the initial damage with Mark Matheson and Nelson both lighting the lamp behind the Stars goal. Then two more in the final stages of the same period ensured the nap hand, Tim Wallace scoring a rare goal these days after goal line technology had given it the green light and then as Steelers defended a Mathieu Roy delay of game minor; Colton Fretter popped up to score shorthanded with 13 seconds left on the penalty and 52 seconds left in the period itself.

Stars replaced Fullerton for the final period, giving back up Craig Holland some ice time, yet Steelers were not letting up. Nelson scored number six for the visitors at 43:35, and continuing a good run of form in front of goal for the Canadian winger. Yet there was to be no shutout for Ervins Mustukovs in Tayside as Malcolm Gould and Joey De Concilys scored within two minutes of each other to give Pacha's side some respectability. However Steelers had the final say, and extended their streak to 0/23 over the Stars player-coach/GM when John Armstrong scored his 15th of the season with 82 seconds left before the final buzzer.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Stars 2 Steelers 7

Steelers Scoring:  Nelson 2+1, Matheson 1+2, Fretter 1+1, Armstrong 1+1, Valdix 0+2, D.Phillips 0+2, Wallace 1+0, Dowd 1+0, Aarssen 0+1, J.Phillips 0+1, Ramsay 0+1, Marquardt 0+1.

Stars Scoring: De Concilys 1+1, Gould 1+1, Andersson 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Stars 29 Steelers 37

Powerplay: Steelers 0 from 3 (0% conversion), Stars 0 from 5 (0% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Stars 6 Steelers 10

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 27 Saves (513), GAA: 2.00 (2.41), Save Percentage 93.10% (91.60%)

Man of the Match: Levi Nelson (Steelers), Craig Holland (Stars)

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The Week In Steelerland So Far

Welcome to a special article compiled after Tuesday and today's events. Remember these opinions are not that of Sheffield Steelers IHC, they are purely my observations and as a hockey fan since 1980 plus a Steeler since 1991.

Disclaimer above out of the way, read on...

So we have decided on our Challenge Cup quarter final opponents in the new choose-your-opponent quarter final format. We've gone for the common sense option in my eyes by picking the Dundee Stars. This is a smart decision by the Steelers as either of the remaining seven all had varying degrees of risk involved. Granted no team has a divine right to win every game they play, despite people thinking differently, this choice represents the best chance of the Steelers at least making the final four in this much maligned competition.

We have of course to be solid in both games, we can't afford to face a second leg deficit regardless if that is played at home or away. It has similarities with last season's quarter-final match up when we faced Edinburgh over two legs. If the first leg is in Tayside, keep it tight or come away with a lead then finish the job on home ice here. Recipe for success that. A tasty semi-final against either Fife or Cardiff, both which will be difficult, to follow.

Also Steelers have announced that forward Andre Deveaux has been released with immediate effect. To some, it's a shock and a disgraceful decision but to me, I lean to it not being so. When he actually played hockey, he was a decent player with some good skills but unfortunately I personally believe that it all boiled down to a lack of self-discipline. Two incidents in the space of less than seven days in my eyes prove it. 

First of all, his reaction to Thommo in Denmark when he appeared to argue with him after his clash with Kurbads Riga's Janis Sprukts. Yeah sure Andre got an unwarranted gouge to the eye from the Latvian which was not punished enough, but to remonstrate with your coach isn't the way to endear yourself particularly when you're still virtually a newcomer to the ranks. Thompson then benched him for the rest of the game as a warning, maybe hinting at saying "Cool your jets Andre. I won't tolerate this type of behaviour" but unfortunately his MK ejection I believe was the last straw and as soon as the weekend was done with then he's out of the door and Steelers are looking for a replacement. Unless it now opens the door for the unlucky Brady Ramsay to cement down a permanent slot in the team with Jonas Westerling probably moving up to centre the third line.

We move on now, like Steelers hockey always does, and reinvent the wheel again. 

Today, Wednesday, DoPS (the new incarnation) decided after reviewing the Deveaux in MK incidents that the recently released forward would be banned for six games. Three incidents are referred and it's hard to argue against them. The problem we face from this is that because Andre is no longer a player of ours; the suspension then becomes a team one where we have to sit one import for each of the six matches. This, coupled with the fact we have a few injury problems again, is in my eyes going to make or break the season for us. If we can get through this spell without too much damage and stay in touch with those above then we will have done well. The realist in me thinks it will damage the title hopes and we will be playing a spot of catch-up. All because of one man who couldn't keep his emotions in check. Sad but totally true.

Those are my thoughts, how about you?

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Big Match Preview: Dundee (Away)

Welcome to your preview of the next Steelers game.

After a mixed weekend where the boys lost convincingly to Milton Keynes on the road but bounced back to defeat the visiting Coventry Blaze, Steelers are in midweek action to face this team:

It's a lengthy road trip to Tayside to lock horns again with Omar Pacha and his Dundee Stars, the team that Steelers have also chosen to face in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals. It's potentially a banana skin for the boys but they have done well in the games so far this season between the two teams but then again the form book can easily go out of the window.

Stars haven't had a great season so far, and currently lie in 11th place at the time of the game starting tomorrow night. However in their five wins this season they can count Manchester, Belfast and Cardiff amongst them so they shouldn't be discounted too lightly. Team news for the Steelers will definitely see one change, Andre Deveaux was released by the Club today and there are serious doubts over Zack Fitzgerald's participation after the defenceman picked up a nasty puck to the jaw in the closing stages of the Coventry game. Kieran Brown should bolster the bench too.

My prediction? It's going to be a tough game in Tayside and we will have to work hard for this. I'm going for a 4-2 road win though. How about you?

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Stars shot down as Steelers score eight again

Welcome to your match report from last night's game against the Dundee Stars.

After losing 3-2 in Ice Arena Wales on Saturday night, Steelers slipped down to 4th place in the Elite League table. However, on Wednesday night they entertained the Dundee Stars for the third time this season and for the second time in Ice Sheffield. Team news saw the team unchanged from the team that lost in Cardiff bar the additions of Ben O'Connor (paternity issues) and Kieran Brown. That meant that Jonas Westerling was still absent and Colton Fretter was serving game five of his six game suspension. Stars were very short benched, with coach Omar Pacha icing himself and the team also borrowed Bobby Chamberlain from Hull Pirates to add up to their numbers.

Despite their short numbers, Stars had the first shot on goal through Malcolm Gould but Ervins Mustukovs dealt with it. Steelers then killed off a Levi Nelson tripping minor before taking the lead at 4:03, good play by both Mark Matheson and Nelson set up Andreas Valdix and the Swede took full advantage to score his fourth goal of the season. Just like buses, it was 2-0 17 seconds later. Andre Deveaux taking full advantage of a loose bit of play by the visitors before finding the twine for goal number two in a Steelers uniform. Most would have expected Steelers to run riot after this burst but it was the Stars who scored the next goal, ex-Edinburgh and Manchester forward Taylor Dickin taking advantage of a screen to fire past Mustukovs.

Steelers got their heads back on it after this and netted a third just before the 13 minute mark, Liam Kirk and Robert Dowd setting up "Daddy" O'Connor for a well taken finish. It was Ben's fourth goal of the season in all competitions. The home side continued to press and it was becoming a case of Fullerton vs the Steelers as they dominated their opponents. It was 4-1 inside the opening stages of the second period, the second line again at with Nelson continuing his good run of goalscoring form. It was an even second period in terms of shots on goal, but Steelers were the ones who were taking their chances and goal number five arrived just shy of the half hour mark. Swede Andreas Jämtin netting his fourth of the season with a shot that Fullerton never saw. Then late in the period, and with Matheson sitting a tripping minor, skipper Jonathan Philips and Brady Ramsay broke 2 on 0 on Fullerton and Captain Fantastic beat the netminder to make it 6-1 even though referee Tom Pering took to GLT to be assured.

Period three saw Steelers make a goaltending change, giving Brad Day the last twenty minutes of the game and rest Mustukovs. One of the first things he had to do though was to fish the puck out of the cage at 42:12, Gould the scorer for the Stars. As the game wound down, Pacha knew he was going down to a new overall record of 0/23 and picked up a hooking minor with a shade under four minutes left. Thirty seconds after the Stars player-coach had taken his seat, he was up from it as Dowd netted on the powerplay: assisted by his ever dependable line mates. Could Steelers match their scoreline from Ice Sheffield in September? The answer was yes as goal number eight arrived with 50 seconds before the final buzzer, Scott Aarssen with his second goal in as many games.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Steelers 8 Stars 2

Steelers Scoring: Valdix 1+2, Dowd 1+2, Nelson 1+2, Deveaux 1+1, O'Connor 1+1, Aarssen 1+0, Jämtin 1+0, J.Phillips 1+0, Kirk 0+1, Ramsay 0+1, Matheson 0+1, Shudra 0+1, Marquardt 0+1.

Stars Scoring: Gould 1+0, Dickin 1+0, Stadel 0+1, Cownie 0+1, Andersson 0+1, Hart 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Steelers 44 Stars 38

Powerplay: Steelers 1 from 3 (33% conversion), Stars 0 from 4 (0% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Steelers 8 Stars 6

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 21 Saves (441), GAA: 1.50 (2.24), Save Percentage 95.50% (92.30%). Day 15 Saves (19), GAA: 3.00 (1.83), Save Percentage 93.80% (95.00%)

Man of the Match: Ben O'Connor (Steelers), Brian Hart (Stars)

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Big Match Preview: Dundee (Home)

Welcome to your big match preview of the next Steelers game.

It's midweek hockey, and midweek hockey at the en-suite bathroom known as Ice Sheffield for the boys as they hope to get back to winning ways in the league as we entertain these fellows:

Yes it's the return to Sheffield of the Dundee Stars, and of course that means Omar "I've got a plan for the Steelers" Pacha will be in residence. The Stars haven't had much luck against the Steelers this season as we have taken both games in regulation. Naturally we want this to continue, and extend the miserable run that Mr Pacha has against us. For the statto's out there, Pacha's overall record against us stands at 0 wins in 22 games (and that goes back to his Hull and Manchester days too) and it's a bit of an unwanted record that we bet he's not at all proud of.

The last game here in Sheffield saw the Steelers blow their visitors away in an exhilarating first period, scoring five goals without reply. It was that sublime that some people were saying it was the best first period of hockey they'd seen for a long time. That game finished 8-2 and it's conceivable that we could expect something similar on Wednesday if we start the game with intensity and have the Stars on the back foot from that first puck drop.

However, we need to play smart when on defence as Stars have a few familiar faces that could hurt us: none so than former Fife Flyer Justin Fox who recently joined Pacha's Tayside troops. Defencemen Joey DeConcilys and Riley Stadel top their scoring charts so that's another thing we need to be wary of. Mind you Mr Stadel won't want to cross Robert Dowd after the same 8-2 game, unless he likes to live life on the edge. We should have enough however to see them off.

My prediction? Steelers to go three out of three against the Stars this season, a 6-1 home win sounds good to me. How do you see it unfolding?

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Five Star Steelers outshine Stars

Time for the match report from Sunday's trip to City of Discovery.

After Saturday's penalty shot loss to the Panthers, Steelers made the long trip north to Tayside to face Omar Pacha and his Dundee Stars. The two sides had featured last month at Ice Sheffield when a five goal first period blitz helped Steelers record a 8-2 win when the final buzzer sounded. Steelers chose to leave Mathieu Roy back in Sheffield, helping with his recovery time so Brady Ramsay was back in the line-up. Defenceman Davey Phillips missed his fourth game in a row. Stars were without former Steeler Chris Lawrence, who was missing with a knee injury, and gave new import Brian Hart a home début.

After Robert Dowd had hit the post, Steelers opened the scoring on the first powerplay of the night. Emerson Hrynyk was sitting a tripping minor, and as the clock counted down to 23 seconds left on it, new Swedish signing Andreas Jämtin was on hand to fire the puck beyond Travis Fullerton. Both teams had a few chances after that but that single goal was all that separated the two sides after twenty minutes action. Steelers though doubled their lead early in the second when they carved open the Stars defence and it was Andreas Valdix this time who lit the lamp; with assists to his line-mates.

Both teams then hit the pipework before Steelers extended their lead at 28:35, a shot from the point got an all-important touch in front past Fullerton. The goal was credited to Matt Marquardt, his fifth of the season and continuing the power forward's great run in front of goal since recovering from the shoulder injury which kept him sidelined for a number of weeks. Stars managed to get themselves on the board though, Ben O'Connor was called for a charging minor by referee Pavel Halas at 33:15 and ten seconds later it became 1-3 with defenceman Joey De Concilys being credited with it.

The arrears became a one goal hockey game in the opening minute of the final period, Steelers coughed up the puck on their own blueline and Hart celebrated his first home start with a neat finish under Ervins Mustukovs. Both teams then went close after that but Steelers were the ones who eventually celebrated the next goal. Dowd scoring it after some great play from his line-mates and giving no chance whatsoever. Steelers continued to press and netted a fifth at 53:42, Liam Kirk scoring his second of the season although it seemed to take an age to find out after goal line technology was called into play. There was no more scoring after that, and Steelers saw the game out for what might prove to be an all-important win.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Stars 2 Steelers 5

Steelers Scoring: Dowd 1+2, Valdix 1+1, Nelson 0+2, Jämtin 1+0, Kirk 1+0, Marquardt 1+0, Aarssen 0+1, J.Phillips 0+1, Matheson 0+1, O'Connor 0+1, Armstrong 0+1.

Stars Scoring: De Concilys 1+0, Hart 1+0, Gould 0+1.

Shots On Goal:  Stars 16 Steelers 35

Powerplay: Steelers 2 from 3 (67% conversion), Panthers 1 from 4 (25% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Stars 6 Steelers 8

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 14 Saves (288), GAA: 2.00 (2.63), Save Percentage 87.50% (91.70%)

Man of the Match: Robert Dowd (Steelers), Brian Hart (Stars)

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