EIHL Game Report: Sheffield Steelers 4 Braehead Clan 5 (won shootout)

The Sheffield Steelers welcomed back former crowd favourite Ryan Finnerty to the Arena on Sunday, as his Braehead Clan side travelled to South Yorkshire for an Elite League game. Finnerty, who spent four years in Sheffield, successfully crashed his own homecoming party as the Clan won the game via a shootout after the sides were tied at 4-4 in regulation.

In a topsy turver , rollercoaster of a game, Braehead stole the advantage in the early on, finding themselves 2-0 up after the first period. Scott Aarssen notched the game’s first goal, as the Steelers struggled to clear their lines, Aarssen fired in a powerful long shot that beat everyone including Sheffield Goalie Frank Doyle to find its way into the net. The Steelers though started to show the kind of inconsistent quality that has both frustrated and amazed fans in the early season; Jeff Legue, Jason Hewitt and Drew Fata all squandering chances created by some top level Hockey.

The Clan though made no such mistake, as Shane Lust made it 2-0 late in the 1st period. Ash Goldie broke down the right and brilliantly pulled the ball back to Lust who calmly tucked the puck home to cap a fantastic move and give his team a two goal advantage.

In the second the Steelers again showed the kind of level they’re able to play at, this time getting some reward for their efforts. Stefan Meyer and Aaron Nell both wasted big chances to claw a goal back, before the home side’s luck finally turned and Jeff Legue was able to put them on the board. After Jonathan Phillips’ shot was saved, the puck broke free from a goal mouth melee and straight into Legue’s path, gifting him the goal.

With the game blown wide open by Legue’s effort, both sides had chances to steal some real momentum. Robert Dowd went close for the Steelers, while Goldie tested Doyle at the other end. Once again though it was the Clan who proved more cutthroat in front of goal, adding a third goal. Doyle saved a shot from Ed McGrane, but the puck bounced into the air and was swatted into the net by Lust once again.

The Steelers answered back with a goal of their own, in slightly more traditional style as Dowd collected a feed from Drew Fata and finished sublimely to give Sheffield a lifeline at 3-2 in the second period.

From there the Steelers really went on the offensive, firing shot after shot at the Clan net to no avail. Finally, despite having a goal disallowed just moments before, the Steelers were finally level as the period expired. Steven Goertzen broke down the right, and picked out Dustin Kohn perfectly on the cross who finished the move and tied the game.

The Steelers though weren’t done yet and continued their all out assault. Rylan Galliardi couldn’t convert a glaring opportunity, before Drew Fata also went close from range. Stefan Meyer though finally broke the deadlock, taking the puck across goal and finishing sublimely on the turn to make it 4-3 with 15 minutes to play.

What should’ve been a game winner though for Meyer was neutralised by the Clan just five minutes later. Ray Macias turned home the rebound after Lust’s shot came back off the post, sending the game to overtime despite another late barrage from the Steelers.

Overtime as well couldn’t separate the sides, taking the game to a shootout. Penalties proved the least competitive part of the night, as it took only two shots to give a clinical Braehead the win.

Steelers Head Coach Doug Christiansen was quick to point out the positives for his side on the night, that being said pressure will be building as the results still aren’t coming in in Sheffield. Two losses this weekend mean that once again all eyes are on South Yorkshire, where there is plenty of good hockey on display, just not so many good results.