Balmas and Brine Combine in Steelers Victory
The Sheffield Steelers completed their pre-season programme in dramatic fashion, coming back from 3-0 down to beat Manchester Storm 6-5 after a penalty shootout in front of more than 11,000 supporters at the AO Arena.
On a historic night for Manchester, playing their first game in their new home, the Storm raced into a three-goal first-period lead.
But Aaron Fox’s Steelers fought their way back into the contest, eventually forcing overtime before Mitchell Balmas scored in sudden death penalty shots and Lucas Brine made the decisive save to complete a memorable comeback.
Brine, who replaced Matt Greenfield at the start of the second period, produced a string of important stops, denied a penalty shot and then stood tall throughout the shootout to collect the Steelers Man of the Match award.
First Period (0-3)
The puck dropped at the AO Arena for the first time since Manchester Storm returned to the Elite League, and the atmosphere inside the building was electric.
The intensity was immediate.
Straight from the opening face-off, Macoy Erkamps and Brad Jenion dropped the gloves at centre ice, both landing telling blows in an old-fashioned opening-night scrap.
Manchester then struck first when Anton Karlsson was left with an empty net to finish and give the home side the lead.
The Storm quickly added a second before Erkamps found himself involved again, this time being assessed a roughing penalty following an altercation near the Steelers bench.
Manchester took full advantage of the power play, with JD Dudek finding the top corner from the top of the circles to send the Storm into the first intermission with a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Second Period (3-4)
Aaron Fox made a change between the pipes at the start of the second period, with Lucas Brine replacing Matt Greenfield.
The Steelers immediately showed far greater urgency.
After sustained pressure around a power play, Sean Collins fired home Sheffield’s first goal of the night and suddenly there was belief on the Steelers bench.
That belief quickly turned into momentum.
A well-worked move found Robbie Stucker at the back post and the defenceman finished to reduce the deficit to one.
Less than two minutes later, the comeback was complete.
Olivier Archambault made a clever play from behind the net before finding Brandon Whistle, who fired under Drew DeRidder to make it 3-3.
Three unanswered Steelers goals had completely changed the contest.
Manchester did regain the lead before the end of the period, however, when Brady Gilmour beat Brine with a well-placed shot.
Ice problems then brought the period to a premature halt, leading to a lengthy delay before play could resume.
Third Period (5-5)
When the game eventually restarted, Manchester quickly restored their two-goal advantage through Connor Lee.
But the night still had plenty of drama remaining.
Dudek was assessed a five-minute major for boarding following a hit on Archambault, who was slow to return to his feet.
The Steelers capitalised quickly.
Leevi Teissala showed excellent composure to find the top corner beyond DeRidder and reduce Manchester’s lead to 5-4.
Sheffield continued to threaten on the extended power play, with Mitchell Balmas striking the crossbar.
The momentum then swung again when Teissala himself was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding.
The incident sparked the second fight of the evening as Karlsson jumped in to defend his teammate.
Manchester had opportunities with the extra man, but Brine produced a series of important saves to keep Sheffield within one.
Then came another huge moment.
Storm were awarded a penalty shot, but Brine remained calm and made the save.
It proved crucial.
Shortly afterwards, Tim Gettinger broke down the boards and sent the puck into the middle for Logan Roe, who finished to tie the game at 5-5 and complete Sheffield’s second comeback of the night.
Overtime (5-5)
The Steelers began overtime still shorthanded as they saw out the remainder of Teissala’s major penalty.
A superb effort from Brien Diffley, Brine and the Sheffield penalty-kill unit kept Manchester at bay.
Neither side could find a winner at even strength, meaning the final exhibition game of pre-season would be decided by a shootout.
Shootout
The drama continued.
Olivier Archambault and Mitchell Balmas were both denied in the opening rounds, while Brine matched DeRidder save for save.
Brandon Whistle was unable to convert, before Brine stopped Tim McGauley and DeRidder denied Mikko Juusola.
After neither side could find a breakthrough through the opening series, the shootout moved into sudden death.
Balmas stepped forward again.
This time he made no mistake, giving the Steelers their first shootout goal and putting all the pressure back on Manchester.
Drydn Dow then had to score to keep the Storm alive.
Brine said no.
The Steelers goaltender made the save, sparking celebrations from the visiting bench and supporters as Sheffield completed a remarkable comeback victory.
From 3-0 down after the opening period, and 5-3 behind in the third, the Steelers refused to go away.
It was quite a way to finish pre-season.
Final Score: Manchester Storm 5-6 Sheffield Steelers (after penalty shootout)
Steelers Man of the Match: Lucas Brine
