08 Dec 2024, 17:00 | Regular season | Dundee Ice Arena |
Dundee Stars | 3-4 | Sheffield Steelers |
Periods: Shots: | 1-0 (12-13) | 0-3 (11-15) | 2-1 (15-12) | Total: 38-40 |
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Referees: #16 Toby Craig, #20 Pavel Halas  |  Spectators: 1702 |
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Goals and assists
Sheffield Steelers avenged their 4-2 home defeat by Dundee Stars a
fortnight ago with a 4-3 win on Tayside, completing a four-point weekend
and leaving the Stars empty-handed after two defeats this weekend by
the odd goal in seven.
"It was okay, we had our slip ups. It's
hard trying to play a full game against this team, they're a really good
team so you have to be on the ball from the drop of the puck," said
Patrick Watling who had two goals on the night. "They kind of took it to
us but we were able to weather the storm so we were able to come out on
top."
The Stars thought they had opened the scoring at 10:22, as
Ben O’Connor attempted to send the puck into the Sheffield zone which
inadvertently took an awkward bounce and found the back of the net. This
sent hundreds of teddy bears onto the ice, which will be donated
locally to those in need. However, after review, the goal was called
back as it was determined the puck has deflected off of a linesman and
into the net.
Domenic Alberga officially opened the scoring less than two minutes
later at 12:09, with a shot from the point curving over Matt Greenfield
and finding the back of the net to make it 1-0.
The Steelers got
on the board early in period two, levelling the score at 22:00. A shot
by Colton Saucerman was initially blocked by a Stars player, however the
puck fell to Patrick Watling who beat Jarrett Fiske to make it 1-1.
Watling scored his second of the game at 30:30, giving the visitors
their first lead of the evening after deflecting a shot from the point
by Dominic Cormier past the Stars’ netminder.
Marc-Olivier
Vallerand's goal with 6:34 to go on a 5-on-3 advantage looked to have
put the game to bed, but the Stars responded with two late goals. Alex
Robert brought them back to within two at 56:07, while Brendan Harms
then put the puck home with 67 seconds to play while the Stars played
with an empty net. Fiske was pulled again with 50 seconds remaining but
the hosts couldn't set up the chance to tie it, and went down by a goal
for the second time this weekend.
For the
"I think our
line is starting to really gel now, from last game we had a pretty
decent game and today we kind of picked up where we left off. It was
nice to see all of us working and I think the forwards and the defense
are finally clicking together so it's making opportunities easier to
come by" added Watling.
Dundee’s best chance came in the form of a
three-on-one breakaway, however Matt Greenfield stood strong and denied
Domenic Alberga his second goal of the game.
Moments later, a
takeaway in the neutral zone by Mitchell Balmas resulted in a two-on-one
opportunity for the Steelers, which Mikko Juusola capitalised on at
37:37 to make it 3-1 heading into the third period.
Marc-Olivier
Valleranad's 5-on-3 goal with just over six minutes to go looked to have
settled the game, but a goal from Alex Robert with 3:53 to play put the
Stars back within two. With Fiske out, Brendan Harms pulled the score
back to 3-4 with 67 seconds remaining, but the Stars couldn't set up the
perfect chance to tie things again when Fiske headed to the bench for
the final 50 seconds.
For the Steelers, the game made it a
four-point weekend with Matt Greenfield back in net. "Not just
physically but mentally to have him back there is huge for our team,"
said Watling. "We're not second guessing the pucks or the plays and
we're not gripping our sticks too tight because we know we have a solid
goaltender back there."