Frustrating Night for the Steelers on Saturday Night
It was another busy Saturday night across the Elite Ice Hockey League, with four games producing plenty of talking points in both the league and Challenge Cup.
For the Steelers, there was frustration at the Utilita Arena as Fife Flyers claimed a 2-1 overtime victory in controversial circumstances.
The visitors struck first through Zach Power before Aatu Aarnio levelled for Aaron Fox’s side with a big shot from the blue line.
With the game still tied at 1-1 after 60 minutes, overtime lasted just 18 seconds before Xander Lamppa found the net for Fife.
The Steelers immediately protested the goal, arguing that Matt Greenfield had been interfered with and that the net had come off its moorings before the puck crossed the line.
Following a lengthy review, however, the goal was allowed to stand and the Flyers left Sheffield with the extra point.
The result gives the Steelers one point from the night and moves them onto three points from their opening three league fixtures, while Fife picked up two points from their first league game of the season.
Flames Continue Perfect League Start
Guildford Flames continued their impressive opening to the Elite League campaign with a 4-3 home victory over Glasgow Clan.
Clan opened the scoring through Josh Tarzwell, but Guildford battled back before Josh Waller struck what proved to be the winning goal midway through the third period.
The victory gives the Flames a perfect four points from their opening two league games and puts them at the top of the early standings.
For Glasgow, it was another frustrating evening, with Clan still searching for their first league points of the season.
Devils Shut Out Storm
Cardiff Devils made a winning start to their Elite League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Manchester Storm at the Vindico Arena.
After a scoreless opening period, Bayley Harewood broke the deadlock just 21 seconds into the second.
The game remained finely balanced until the closing seconds when Devils captain Joey Martin found the empty net to secure the points.
Goaltender Christian Stoever completed the shutout as Cardiff opened their league campaign with two points.
Manchester remain on four points from four games.
Panthers Take Important Challenge Cup Win
There was plenty of entertainment in Nottingham where the Panthers claimed a 4-3 Challenge Cup victory over Coventry Blaze.
Coventry struck first through Artem Buzoverya before Darick Louis-Jean brought Nottingham level.
Joe Hazeldine and Ben Corbeil were also on target for the Panthers before Zach O’Brien scored the decisive power-play goal in the third period.
The victory gives Nottingham two important Challenge Cup points and moves them onto five from five games as the battle for qualification from Group A continues.
Saturday Night Results
Elite League
Sheffield Steelers 1-2 Fife Flyers (OT)
Guildford Flames 4-3 Glasgow Clan
Cardiff Devils 2-0 Manchester Storm
Challenge Cup
Nottingham Panthers 4-3 Coventry Blaze
Guildford therefore end Saturday night at the top of the early Elite League standings with four points from two games, while Manchester also have four points.
The Steelers sit on three points from three games, with Cardiff and Fife both making winning starts to their respective league campaigns.