22 Feb 2025, 19:00 | Regular season | Sheffield Arena |
Sheffield Steelers | 3-2 SO | Nottingham Panthers |
Periods: Shots: | 0-1 (12-7) | 0-1 (24-9) | 2-0 (25-7) | 0-0 (0-2) | Total: 61-25 |
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Referees: #3 Tom Pering, Wells  |  Spectators: 9241 |
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Goals and assists
9,241 fans saw an enthralling game at the Utilita Arena that went the
full distance, with Sheffield Steelers coming from two down to
eventually beat Nottingham Panthers in a shootout.
The Steelers
hit the pipes of Jason Grande’s net twice in an opening period that
ended scoreless. Both Brandon Whistle and Daniel Leavens saw Grande
beaten but the iron-work deny them giving the hosts the lead. The
Panthers grew into things are the period progressed, but without calling
Matt Greenfield into any serious action.
If the Steelers were frustrated by Grande’s posts in the opening
period, that was nothing compared with their frustration to be behind
after the second thanks to the man himself pulling off a string of
exceptional saves. The Panthers went ahead 3:48 into the period when
they caught their hosts 2-on-1 the other way, and Tim Doherty beat
Greenfield low to put the visitors ahead. Grande made an excellent stick
stop to deny Marc-Olivier Vallerand tying the game at the far posts
seven minutes into the period, and then a huge pad save to keep his team
ahead at the click ticked down on the period.
3:21 into period three, Mitch Fossier beat Greenfield to put the
Panthers two up on the road. Grande was the difference between the
teams, but could do nothing about the Steelers getting on the board some
90 seconds later - a bad giveaway by the Panthers in their own zone
setting up Brandon Whistle for the finish in the slot.
Danny
Stewart called his timeout to steady his team but, much like Adam Keefe
six nights earlier, saw his team give up the equaliser. While Grande had
been exceptional all night, he couldn't hold Dominic Cormier's shot
form the wing and it dropped in behind him over the line for a tied game
with 6:04 to play. The Steelers hit a post for a fourth time as they
tried to score on a late powerplay, but overtime probably was a fair
reflection of the game.
The biggest chance of the bonus period
fell to Fossier on a breakaway, but a diving poke-check from Mitchell
Balmas prevented the opportunity. Going the other way, the Steelers
later messed up a 3-on-1 as they tried to win it.
In the end, the
game was decided in a shootout. Goals from Kris Kontos and Cooper Zech,
with only Mikko Juusola responding, gave Hugo Roy the chance to win
things in Round 4. He missed, and Patrick Watling scored to keep things
alive. Doherty couldn't finish it in round five, and after Kontos missed
in sudden death it fell to Balmas to win it for the Steelers.