16 Feb 2020, 18:30 | Regular season | Fife Ice Arena |
Fife Flyers | 3-1 | Sheffield Steelers |
Periods: Shots: | 3-0 (11-10) | 0-0 (11-7) | 0-1 (5-13) | Total: 27-30 |
|
Referees: Toby Craig/Allan Ward  |  Spectators: 1075 |
  |
Goals and assists
A defeat on Sunday night in Fife meant it was four losses in a row for the Sheffield Steelers.
Coming off the disappointing loss versus Dundee Stars on Saturday night, the Steelers got off to the worst start possible conceding two within the opening four minutes.
First, it was Chase Schaber who found the top corner after making space in front of Tomas Duba and released a pinpoint wrist shot over the glove of the Sheffield netminder (03:33).
Moments later, Carlo Finucci kept the puck away from Brocklehurst and it was again another quick release that found its way past Duba.
Rocked by the quickfire double, Steelers struggled to find their feet in the opening period and frustration began to set in.
Four first period penalties gave Fife an opportunity to extend their lead with the extra man, something that eventually came to fruition when Finucci fired home his second.
On the power-play with Michael Davies in the box for slashing, almost straight from the face-off, the lead was stretched to three.
The middle period was a scoreless one, but a much improved twenty minutes as the Steelers created chances of their own to get back into the game.
Adam Morrison was solid throughout the opening forty minutes of play, stopping everything sent his way, along with a little help from his post.
Brendan Connolly came the closest for the Steelers as his re-direct found the iron on the Steelers power-play.
There was very little in terms of high-quality chances produced as the teams entered the final frame how they ended the first. Flyers leading 3-0.
Sheffield were desperate for a way back into the game but the final frame proved to be a ‘chippy’ encounter. Late hits, niggly plays behind the play and no real fluidity the game.
Nikolai Lemtyugov and Danick Gauthier dropped the gloves after Duba was bumped in his crease, a move that saw the atmosphere turn up a notch or two.
DeLuca and Emmerdahl also had a coming together not long after but nothing more than roughing majors were called.
A late consolation goal was scored by Steelers Lucas Sandstrom as he tapped in at the back post after nice work from Marek Troncinsky.
That was the end of the scoring but it was almost four and a hat-trick for Finucci but his empty-net effort struck the post.