EIHL Challenge Cup Game Report: Sheffield 1 Nottingham 4
The only positive Steelers Head coach Doug Christiansen could give after his side’s early season 4-1 Challenge Cup loss to the Nottingham Panthers, was the fact that they will face their opponents at least nine more times before the season bows out. Otherwise, what was supposed to be a homecoming for new and returning Steelers talent, playing in front of their home fans for the first time in five months, became somewhat of an early season nightmare.
The tone for the game was set early on when the Panthers stayed resilient, despite an early powerplay for the Steelers, and came out seamlessly onto offence as soon as they were back to full strength. With six and a half minutes played, Nottingham showed exactly why they were double winning champions last year, stringing together an intricate move close to the Steelers’ net , before Leigh Salters fed the hugely impressive Matt Francis, who then fired the puck past Frank Doyle and into the goal. This wouldn’t be Francis’ last contribution in a man of the match performance which saw his season tallies rise to 3 goals and 3 assists after just the opening weekend.
From there the Steelers looked to battle their way back to equal footing, with Jeff Legue breaking free only to have his one on one effort saved by Panthers’ Goalie Craig Kowalski, before the Steelers showed how dangerous their offence may well be this season as, with the Steelers a man short, Stefan Meyer broke free before being stopped by some impressive last ditch defending.
Despite positive signs for the hosts, the Panthers did what Sheffield simply couldn’t and capitalised on their very next opportunity. Excellent puck control allowed Steve Lee to find a cranny of space from where he let off a vicious, low, long range blast which beat everyone to put the Panthers up 2-0 after twenty-five minutes.
The Steelers then got a rare cheer as new Forward Tim Spencer did exactly what will be expected of him this year, locking up with Brent Henley and giving his team and the crowd a crucial boost in spirits. Christiansen said post game that he wouldn’t trade Spencer for any other tough guy in the league, and it’s easy to see why, as he alongside Jason Hewitt and Jonathan Phillips proved the Steelers most effective line all night. This is was shown after half an hour, as Phillips received a rebounded shot close to the net, and smartly lifted the puck past Kowalski to give the Steelers a lifeline at 2-1.
Sheffield then pressed again despite being a man down, Maxime Lacroix couldn’t convert a one on one effort after stealing the puck around half ice, and Jeff Legue went close yet again after collecting a nervy clearance from Kowalski. It was the Panthers though who looked most clinical all night, regaining their two goal advantage as David Clarke converted after Bob Wren’s pass put the puck on a plate for him to ram home on 33 minutes.
The 3rd period then proved little more than a warm down before the Panthers could start their celebrations. The visitors sealed the game, answering every Sheffield question before man of the match Matt Francis added a second seven minutes from time. Steelers fans could perhaps be forgiven for leaving the Arena early, having arrived expecting their new look side to put in a performance like those in pre season, which saw them go toe to toe with some of the best sides in Europe. Instead it was Nottingham who won the day, showing that they will be every bit the side they were last year as they look to defend their titles. That being said, as Christiansen pointed out, this is early season and this is the Challenge Cup, don’t expect the Steelers to roll over quite so easily next time these teams meet, in just under two weeks.