23 Mar 2024, 19:00 | Regular season | Motorpoint Arena Nottingham |
Nottingham Panthers | 2-4 | Sheffield Steelers |
Periods: Shots: | 1-0 (10-10) | 1-2 ( - ) | 0-2 (2-11) | Total: 12-21 |
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Referees: Sewell/Truswell  |  Spectators: 6804 |
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Goals and assists
Sheffield Steelers got the two points they needed on Retro Night in
Nottingham, beating to Panthers 4-2, to set up the possibility of
winning the league title on home ice on Sunday.
Rok Stojanovič
pulled off the game's first big save early on when a wonderful
Marc-Olivier Vallerand dangle saw him through, but the Slovene got
across his crease to keep the game scoreless. The Panthers had a good
chance at the back post to open the scoring but couldn't connect,
however they did go ahead - an excellent Anthony Luciani pass found
Alexander Lunsjo at the far side, and he beat Matt Greenfield high into
the very corner of the net with 10:03 played.
Dominic Cormier tied
the game just 23 seconds into period two when his shot from the wing
snuck through Stojanovič and squirmed over the line. Mitchell Balmas
then almost put the Steelers ahead of a repeat play, but this time the
puck trickled onto the side-netting. The Panthers were back ahead when
Otto Nieminen found Jordan Kelsall in space and the Nottingham-both
forward finished excellently into Greenfield's net. Stojanovič made a
good pad save to keep the Panthers ahead, but the Steelers' pressure
eventually told when a Colton Saucerman shot that went through traffic
at 32:23 - possibly taking a deflection in front.
1:52 into period
three, the Steelers took their first lead of the game through Balmas'
nice finish, and would not look back from there. A poor turnover in the
Panthers zone set up Josh Nicholls for a finish in the slot with 8:15 to
play that put the visitors two ahead, where the scoreline ultimately
stayed.
A win on Sunday will see the Steelers lift the league
title this season, though other results could also help them do it if
they can't beat Guildford.