Day shines as Steelers gatecrash Devils party night

Welcome to our match report from last night's game at Cardiff.

After suffering their second successive loss at home to Nottingham on the Saturday night, Steelers headed back down the motorway to play newly crowned back-to-back Elite League Champions Cardiff for the second time in the space of four days. It was a sell out crowd in Ice Arena Wales as the Devils were to be presented with the Monteith Bowl at the end of the game. Steelers showed two changes from the side that lost to the Panthers, defenceman Davey Phillips was out after suffering a nasty knock in the 3-2 loss and Brad Day started between the pipes. Whether this was related to Day's performance four days previous or Steelers were resting regular starter Ervins Mustukovs is unknown but the Huddersfield-born netminder was the starter in South Wales. Cardiff were at full strength bar long-term injured Brit Craig Moore.

Steelers started the game like the proverbial house on fire, and continued in the same vein as they had 24 hours previously: that is outshooting their opponent comfortably. It said it all when the shot count at the end of the first period showed a staggering 19-3 in the Steelers favour. However, unlike Saturday, Steelers actually profited from their dominance and deservedly led 2-0 at the end of that opening period. Devils were forced on the back foot, conceding possession in their own zone after Ben Bowns had saved Mathieu Roy's initial effort: Swedish centre Andreas Valdix tucked home the juicy rebound for his 13th of the season. Just under five minutes later at 13:23, Steelers doubled the lead. Some great work by Robert Dowd and Mark Matheson did the hard work and Valdix was there on the doorstep for his second of the night and 14th of the season.

It was a fully deserved lead for the Steelers in a building where they have had little success all season and it got better at 23:45 when they made it an impressive 3-0 on the night. With Devils picking up a spot of penalty trouble, the visitors made a 5 on 3 powerplay count. Jonas Westerling was attempting the pass across Bowns' crease but the pass took a deflection off a Devil and the puck nestled into the net for Jonas' 9th of the season. Devils were more offensive in this middle period, probably as a result of a few harsh words by player-coach Andrew Lord, and they reduced it to 3-1 just short of the halfway mark. Matt Pope scoring the goal to give some life back into his side.

The offensive threat continued in the final period but we had three goals in the space of just under two minutes in it. At 49:41, Devils made it a one goal game when Layne Ulmer finished with an effort that beat Day low on his blocker. 55 seconds later and the Steelers two goal margin was restored when the ever-dependable second line. Levi Nelson fed Valdix, whose shot was saved by Bowns but the GB internationalist could do nothing more as Dowd picked up the rebound and tucked it away for his third goal of the weekend and 21st of the season. 58 seconds after that it became a one goal game again, Justin Faryna lighting the lamp after Devils had caused the Steelers to concede possession in their own zone. But that was as good as it got for the home side as a Day-inspired Steelers stood firm despite the inevitable onslaught to record two vital road points and poop the Devils party on ice.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Devils 3 Steelers 4

Steelers Scoring: Valdix 2+1, Dowd 1+1, Roy 0+2, Westerling 1+0, Matheson 0+1, Nelson 0+1, O'Connor 0+1.

Devils Scoring: Ulmer 1+1, Richardson 0+2, Pope 1+0, Faryna 1+0, Hotham 0+1, Haddad 0+1. 

Shots On Goal:  Steelers 39 Devils 29

Powerplay: Steelers 1 from 4 (25% conversion), Devils 0 from 3 (0% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Steelers 12 Devils 12

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Day 26 Saves (72), GAA: 3.00 (2.84), Save Percentage: 89.70% (91.10%)

Man of the Match: Brad Day (Steelers), Layne Ulmer (Devils)

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Steelers drop points to Panthers

Welcome to our match report from last night's game in Nottingham.

After losing a midweek game to Cardiff, Steelers looked for a bounce back performance against the Panthers who they had beaten in the NIC seven days previously. As predicted Steelers welcomed back Miika Franssila to the blueline after illness had denied him his place in midweek. Panthers didn't have as full a bench as the home ice but could still dress a full complement of imports. It was also a game of landmarks too, as Steelers Robert Dowd played his 500th game for the team and David Clarke was potentially playing his final game at the House Of Steel before his retirement at the end of the season.

The game started with a raucous cheer as Steelers welcomed back French-Canadian power forward Guillaume Desbiens back to the House Of Steel. Desbiens of course played an important role in the Steelers play-off success last season, and was set to return for two  more seasons until his wife received a job offer she couldn't refuse back home and the ever popular Desbiens decided to retire from professional hockey with immediate effect. How Steelers wish that they had him back in the fold now?

This game had a common pattern throughout, that being Steelers outshooting their visitors but not taking the chances when presented to them. It was to prove a costly error as the Panthers would go back down the M1 with the points. The scoring was opened at 6:18 and to be honest, it was a goal that Steelers should have avoided. Former NHL draft pick Zack Phillips was allowed space to walk in on Ervins Mustukovs and then light the lamp with a simple finish to delight the away blocks. A couple of minutes later Davey Phillips and Panthers' Jeff Brown dropped the gloves after the latter reacted to what he thought was a late on him by the former. Both received five minute majors with Brown taking an additional 2+10 for instigation. Mark Derlago could have made it 2-0 but Mustukovs somehow denied the Panthers sniper, and Steelers themselves went close with Dowd, Levi Nelson and Mathieu Roy all having chances.

Patrick Galbraith, who was given the nod ahead of Michael Garnett, was definitely the busier of the two netminders. The Danish netminder continued to keep his side ahead of the Steelers as he produced a series of good saves but it had to be said that some of the other efforts were straight at him as Steelers continued to rack up the efforts on goal. With six and a half minutes left Steelers shipped a second and it was again avoidable. The home side couldn't clear their zone and Mike Vaskivuo took advantage of it to make it 2-0. Facing an uphill battle, the hill became more like a mountain when Panthers stretched it to three at 36:23. Derlago skated down the left wing, passed it into the slot and it was GB internationalist Evan Mosey who arrived on cue to crash the net and score past the exposed Mustukovs. Steelers D looked shellshocked by it all.

Knowing they needed a goal to give them a lift, Steelers managed to haul one back at 45:27. This goal came shortly after the Steelers had once more failed to convert on a powerplay, they ended up going 0 for 5 overall in the end. Galbraith managed to let one escape what looked his cast-iron grip, and Dowd put away his 19th of the season even if the EIHL site has it down as down as Andreas Valdix. It became an interesting final 5:07 to play when Steelers broke through for a second time and once more it was Dowd who was on target. The Billingham-born winger let fly with a low slapshot from the right circle and it arrowed into the bottom corner before Galbraith could even get set for it. Panthers D was then having a wobble as Steelers pushed on under increased noise from the majority of the 8000 plus crowd. However, any hope was blown away with 1:03 left when on a 6 on 5, Valdix was called for a clear tripping offence yet the decision was made by the referee at the other end of the ice. That call took the wind out of the Steelers sails and Panthers comfortably saw off the remaining time to record an all-important two road points.

Time for the statistics:

Goals: Steelers 2 Panthers 3

Steelers Scoring: Dowd 2+0, Aarssen 0+1, Matheson 0+1, Nelson 0+1.

Panthers Scoring: Phillips 1+1, Vaskivuo 1+1, Clarke 0+2, Mosey 1+0, Derlago 0+1, Pither 0+1. 

Shots On Goal:  Steelers 60 Panthers 30 

Powerplay: Steelers 0 from 5 (0% conversion), Panthers 0 from 1 (0% conversion)

Penalty Minutes called: Steelers 7 Panthers 25

Steelers Goaltender Stats: Mustukovs 27 Saves (1339), GAA: 3.09 (2.41), Save Percentage: 90.00% (91.60%).

Man of the Match: Robert Dowd (Steelers), David Clarke (Panthers)

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Big Match Preview: Nottingham and Cardiff

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

After suffering a reverse in midweek, Steelers head in the penultimate weekend of the season mathematically sure of their play-off quarter final spot. They, however, face a couple of games in their own Erhardt Conference this weekend. This starts tonight (Saturday) when we host the following:

Yes it's a visit from those down the M1 - the equally underperforming Bears. Going into December, Corey Neilson's men looked well placed to be challenging for their first title since that treble winning season of 2013. But in typical Panther fashion, they fell away dramatically and currently lie in a very disappointing 7th place in the league standings. It's been like the Steelers, a season of inconsistency.

Steelers have had a good record against the Panthers for once this season, and will be hoping that continues. Miika Franssila is expected to have recovered from illness to resume his place back in the team which means someone will sit out. After his ejection in the last home game; will this be Fitzy? Panthers are hoping to finish the regular season on a high and get a decent quarter-final match up. Anything could happen tonight.

After this game Steelers are back in action on the Sunday and on the road. They travel south to a place they have already been this week, that being the following:

Newly crowned Elite League Champions (for a second time in a row) Cardiff Devils play host looking to get some points as they inch closer to a back to back title triumph. It certainly promises to be a party atmosphere for the home fans, and they could add the Erhardt Conference title if they overcome the Steelers.

Cardiff of course are beatable, we have to hope that there are a few hangovers in South Wales for that to happen. Can Steelers repeat the dose and delay those Welsh celebrations for a more few days. It will be a hard task but with the Steelers this season, again anything could happen.

My predictions? Steelers to win the Panthers again, I'm going 4-2 with an empty netter to seal the deal. Cardiff will again take the game in Ice Arena Wales though, 6-2 is my call. What about you?

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