Injury worries for Foxy as four starters fail to complete the game
Another incredible night for the Steelers in the CHL but it wasn’t to be as Berlin came from behind to take the game 4-2 (including an empty net goal) and the series 9-5 on aggregate.
It started badly with Matt Greenfield leaving the game after just one minute, it got better when Marco Vallerand opening the scoring but in the end it wasn’t to be as the home side came through led by the incredible Jake Hildebrand between the pipes.
As well as Matt Greenfield, Veeti Vainio, Patrick Watling and Robert Dowd all left the game early with injuries, Watling being stretchered off in the final minutes.
First Period.
Opening shift and Matt Greenfield collides with a Berlin forward, the Steelers goalie goes down.
01.00 Moments later Fontaine sits for 2 minutes as Steelers have an early power-play
Next shift and Greenfield to the bench and then the dressing room, De-Filippo takes over in goal.
Cormier and Diffley with the best chances on the power-play but Berlin kill.
Whistle and Juusola go close on a two on one but Brandon fails to find Mikko with the final pass.
8.52 and Patrick Watling to the bench for hooking
De-Filippo with a string of saves as Steelers kill
11.03 Galipeau to the box for hooking, Steelers have their second PP of the period.
Urgency on the PP for the Steelers as they create from the opening seconds of the one man advantahge
12.04 and Marco Vallerand riffles on top shelf with an assist to Sasha Guimond to give the Steelers the lead
18.52 and a late power-play for Berlin, Watling, this time for tripping. Steelers end the period ahead but Berlin will start the middle session on the PP for another 68 seconds
Second Period …
Berlin looked a different side in the first half of the second period, the home side started the period on the power-play but the Steelers killed well.
24.19 and Berlin levelled through Veileux as he went one on one with De-Filippo, it looked like the Steelers goalie had made the save but the puck trickled through to tie the game
De-Filippo made a great save off Ronning but moments later he was beaten by a smart wrist shot from Geibel at 25.47 to give Berlin the 2-1 lead (7-4 on aggregate)
Golod broke through and created a great chance moments later, his shot hitting the post
Cole Shudra next with an opportunity, firing off his off wing, so close.
At the other end De-Filippo was making saves, a two on one blocker save off Ronning the pick of the bench.
Ciampini to Vallerand and Marco almost levelled with his one time shot
Late power-play chances for the Steelers, at 36.09 Tiff’s for interference, with just over a minute remaining on the PP Berlin back to the box for delaying the game.
Foxy then pulled the goalie to go 6 on 3 and we came so close, Vallerand the closest, but Balmas and Watling also so close.
Berlin killed though and ended the period 2-1 ahead
Brien Diffley started the period with a shot that grazed the top of Hildebrand’s mask.
44.38 and Geibel off for interference. Steelers power-play.
So much pressure and so many chances but the Steelers just couldn’t find a way through and past Hildebrand.
48.53 and against the run of pressure the Berlin side add a 3rd goal.
Ronning picks up a rebound and converts from close range (3-1)
Balmas close on a 2 on 1 as the Steelers never gave up, huge noise coming from the Steelers 500 strong traveling fans.
54.49 Berlin to the box again, this time Veileux for unsportsmanlike like conduct, would Aaron pull the goalie?
He did, Steelers threw everything they had left, Watling hit the post, shot just over the cross bar and then watched as Hildebrand made a super save, all inside 10 seconds.
Eventually the goal came, 57.00 and Mitchell Balmas from a tight angle rifled home for 3-2
Goalie pulled again and Patrick Watling clashes with Joona Huttula and goes to ground, trainers and Dr’s come onto the ice and Watling is stretchered off. No one sees that as the incident happens Berlin had scored into the empty net, Byron at 57.46 for 4-2
No more goals scored as the clock ran down, incredible support from the travelling army of fans in orange
Final score: Berlin 4-2 Steelers
