Post by MrsJoel on Mar 19, 2004 8:55:49 GMT
Has anyone read the report in yesterday's Sheffield Star about the game?
If not, here's a quick cut-and-paste job:
"...Agony for Steelers as Panthers pinch Cup
SUDDEN death, it's called - when a team loses in extra time in the Challenge Cupo final second leg to a single heart-stopping goal.
Painful, yes. But fatal, no.
Sheffield coach Mike Blaisdell shrugged off last night's defeat to Nottingham after it had ended 1-1 on Panthers territory, made all the more painful by his side coming back from the dead at 2-0 down, by reminding the hockey world no team wins every game.
"We've just won 20 odd games in a row, and maybe this was the night when the puck wouldn't go our way" he said.
"They scored two early and that changed our game plan. With a Diana Ross concert on in the Arena last night, the ice was heavy and I felt our senior players were tired as we went into overtime. We ran out of steam.
"Give credit to Nottingham, maybe it was their turn to win, for change. There wasn't much in it, but maybe they were slightly the better side.
"But now we look forward to the Play-offs, which, second only to the league title, we've won."
Nottingham initially stamped their authority on the game when a 5-on-3 power play controversially came their way at 4;39.
Gerad Adams had gone off for a harsh interference call behind the net on goalie Niklas Sundberg, followed by Mike Peron for a slashing.
If that wasn't bad enough, Kevin Bolibruck got a 2+2 for accidental high sticks at 5;01, and Sheffield had no fewer than three in the sin-bin.
By the time Adams had returned to the fray, Panthers had enough time to impose themselves in Steelers' zone to fashion an opening for the impressive Joel Salonen to execute.
And with Bolibruck still locked up, John Craighead made it 0-2, firing a shot that you would have expected Christian Bronsard to save.
The right-winger then showed his contempt for the Steelers' bench with the now traditional gestures.
Blaisdell was livid with Moray Hanson's refereeing calls - and his temper can hardly have improved when a Ron Shudra slapshot was disallowed. The officials said the puck had gone out of the zone before he hit it - but most of the 6,724 fans disagreed.
Generally, Sheffield were creating too many turnovers, not getting deep enough into enemy territory.
And the penalties and general disruption in the flow of the game was clearly favouring Panthers.
Despite that, Sheffield started to trigger some promising attacks with Mark Dutiuame, Adams and Erik Anderson all threatening.
The pressure to score took its toll on Steelers in the middle period, with Bronsard embarrassed by a bobbling puck and passes going astray.
Peron was unable to despatch two chances in positions of potential and Shudra and Dion Darling exchanged sharp words when the elder man iced the puck, claiming there was no movement up front.
Hanson's whistle stayed in his pocket when Mikko Koivunoro rammed a stick across Brent Boybyck's neck and the fans were groaning again when Kirk DeWaele's misplaced pass to Dutiaume created a turnover.
The dam eventually broke with the period heading to a close when Anderson slotted a wristshot past Sundberg.
Steelers were dominantly forechecking as the third session got underway and when Dutiaume and Peron drove the net, you felt a goal was on its way, especially when Steelers had their own 5-on-3 for 78 seconds, with two Notts players serving high stick minors.
Peron and Anderson could have levelled, but couldn't beat Sundberg crouching resolutely on his line.
Just as the first penalty elapsed, though, Anderson grabbed his second with a hefty drive.
Adams got away with a slash on the back of Robert Stancok's right leg as the game went into overtime.
Sudden death it was too..when Kim Ahlroos whacked a fine first-timer home after 53 seconds of extra play...."
So the ice the Steelers skated on sapped their energy and tired them out. I'd have thought it would be the same for both sides, but still...
If not, here's a quick cut-and-paste job:
"...Agony for Steelers as Panthers pinch Cup
SUDDEN death, it's called - when a team loses in extra time in the Challenge Cupo final second leg to a single heart-stopping goal.
Painful, yes. But fatal, no.
Sheffield coach Mike Blaisdell shrugged off last night's defeat to Nottingham after it had ended 1-1 on Panthers territory, made all the more painful by his side coming back from the dead at 2-0 down, by reminding the hockey world no team wins every game.
"We've just won 20 odd games in a row, and maybe this was the night when the puck wouldn't go our way" he said.
"They scored two early and that changed our game plan. With a Diana Ross concert on in the Arena last night, the ice was heavy and I felt our senior players were tired as we went into overtime. We ran out of steam.
"Give credit to Nottingham, maybe it was their turn to win, for change. There wasn't much in it, but maybe they were slightly the better side.
"But now we look forward to the Play-offs, which, second only to the league title, we've won."
Nottingham initially stamped their authority on the game when a 5-on-3 power play controversially came their way at 4;39.
Gerad Adams had gone off for a harsh interference call behind the net on goalie Niklas Sundberg, followed by Mike Peron for a slashing.
If that wasn't bad enough, Kevin Bolibruck got a 2+2 for accidental high sticks at 5;01, and Sheffield had no fewer than three in the sin-bin.
By the time Adams had returned to the fray, Panthers had enough time to impose themselves in Steelers' zone to fashion an opening for the impressive Joel Salonen to execute.
And with Bolibruck still locked up, John Craighead made it 0-2, firing a shot that you would have expected Christian Bronsard to save.
The right-winger then showed his contempt for the Steelers' bench with the now traditional gestures.
Blaisdell was livid with Moray Hanson's refereeing calls - and his temper can hardly have improved when a Ron Shudra slapshot was disallowed. The officials said the puck had gone out of the zone before he hit it - but most of the 6,724 fans disagreed.
Generally, Sheffield were creating too many turnovers, not getting deep enough into enemy territory.
And the penalties and general disruption in the flow of the game was clearly favouring Panthers.
Despite that, Sheffield started to trigger some promising attacks with Mark Dutiuame, Adams and Erik Anderson all threatening.
The pressure to score took its toll on Steelers in the middle period, with Bronsard embarrassed by a bobbling puck and passes going astray.
Peron was unable to despatch two chances in positions of potential and Shudra and Dion Darling exchanged sharp words when the elder man iced the puck, claiming there was no movement up front.
Hanson's whistle stayed in his pocket when Mikko Koivunoro rammed a stick across Brent Boybyck's neck and the fans were groaning again when Kirk DeWaele's misplaced pass to Dutiaume created a turnover.
The dam eventually broke with the period heading to a close when Anderson slotted a wristshot past Sundberg.
Steelers were dominantly forechecking as the third session got underway and when Dutiaume and Peron drove the net, you felt a goal was on its way, especially when Steelers had their own 5-on-3 for 78 seconds, with two Notts players serving high stick minors.
Peron and Anderson could have levelled, but couldn't beat Sundberg crouching resolutely on his line.
Just as the first penalty elapsed, though, Anderson grabbed his second with a hefty drive.
Adams got away with a slash on the back of Robert Stancok's right leg as the game went into overtime.
Sudden death it was too..when Kim Ahlroos whacked a fine first-timer home after 53 seconds of extra play...."
So the ice the Steelers skated on sapped their energy and tired them out. I'd have thought it would be the same for both sides, but still...