31 Jan 2024, 19:30 | Play-off | SF | Sheffield Arena |
Sheffield Steelers | 4-1 | Coventry Blaze |
Periods: Shots: | 2-0 (12-5) | 2-1 (12-3) | 0-0 (8-6) | Total: 32-14 |
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Referees: Pering/Good  |  Spectators: 5623 |
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Goals and assists
Aggregate score 10-1
Sheffield Steelers advanced to the 2024 Challenge Cup Final with a
10-1 aggregate win over Coventry Blaze, qualifying for the final of a
competition they won in 2020 - their last trophy.
Coventry needed
to score first to have any realistic chance of clawing back the deficit,
but when no one picked up Sam Jones ghosting in at the far post to
opening the scoring their test was made even harder just under 13
minutes in.
The Blaze began having chances of their own, the best
coming wit a breakaway shortly after they went behind - but an
excellently-timed Daniel Ciampini stick-lift thwarted the danger.
Coventry failed to take advantage of some three odd-man rushes before
they were eventually punished again. Robert Dowd skated into the zone
and took the attention of the defensemen, allowing him to feed an
on-rushing Brian Diffley to beat Kent five-hole as he missed the poke
check.
Mack Stewart was denied a first goal for the Blaze when he
was found in front by Nathan Ripley but Anthony Morrone was in his way.
Robert Dowd took a bad pass in the zone but with some nifty footwork got
himself a shot off that surprised Kent and put the Steelers 4-1 up at
29:34. The Blaze did eventually get the goal they deserved off an
excellent 'bottle-popper' from Danny Kristo that Morrone may have wanted
back. The Steelers added a fifth from Mitchell Balmas short side on a
play where Patrick Watling took a shot square in the midriff prior to
Balmas' finish two passes later.
Period three was played at less
of a pace than the previous two. A small highlight on an otherwise
difficult night for the Blaze was a 100% penalty kill with two Steelers
powerplays seen off without conceding.
It was, however, the Steelers' night as the booked their place into a final that they have the honour of hosting.