Game Summary
The Sheffield Steelers’ remarkable 21-game winning streak against the Nottingham Panthers came to an end Saturday night at the Utilita Arena as the visitors secured a 4-2 victory. In a fiercely contested rivalry match, the Steelers’ inefficiency in front of goal, coupled with the Panthers’ clinical finishing, proved decisive.
The game began with a physical tone as both teams sought to impose their will. Joona Huttula delivered two punishing hits for the Steelers, including a clean but devastating blow to Mitchell Fossier, temporarily forcing the Panthers forward out of the game. Not to be outdone, Otto Nieminen answered with a big hit for Nottingham, setting the stage for a hard-fought contest.
Despite outshooting the Panthers 17-6, the Steelers couldn’t capitalise on their dominance. Maxim Golod gave the hosts an early lead at 7:34, rifling a shot past Ryan Bednard off a feed from Mitchell Balmas. However, the Panthers struck back just over two minutes later when Sam Herr finished a 2-on-1 break with precision, beating Jere Huhtamaa blocker-side to level the score at 1-1.
Missed opportunities late in the frame, including a failed power play, left the Steelers frustrated as they entered the first intermission with the game tied.
The Panthers seized momentum in the middle frame, outshooting the Steelers 12-5 and converting their chances with clinical precision.
At 25:48, Kristoff Kontos capitalised on a rebound near the post, giving the Panthers a 2-1 lead. Sam Herr’s initial shot created the opportunity, with Didrik Henbrant earning a secondary assist. The Steelers had no answer for the Panthers’ speed and skill, as Hugo Roy extended the visitors’ advantage at 30:30. Left unmarked in the slot, Roy coolly deked forehand to backhand, lifting the puck over Huhtamaa’s blocker.
The Steelers’ struggles on the power play continued, as they failed to convert during a late-period opportunity when Matt Spencer was called for boarding.
Facing a two-goal deficit, the Steelers needed a big third period but couldn’t generate enough sustained pressure on Ryan Bednard.
The Panthers delivered the dagger at 51:29, with Herr netting his second goal of the game. Demonstrating incredible hand-eye coordination, he controlled a bouncing puck in close before firing it past Huhtamaa. Mitchell Fossier and Kontos picked up the assists.
The Steelers responded at 57:34 with a consolation goal. Patrick Watling, battling on his knees, fed Daniel Leavens for a tip-in that beat Bednard at the near post. Despite a late push, the Steelers couldn’t find another breakthrough as the Panthers’ defense held firm.
Looking Ahead
The loss marks a rare blemish for the Steelers, who now turn their attention to an away fixture against the Fife Flyers on Sunday night. They’ll look to rebound at home next Saturday when they host the Coventry Blaze in a crucial league matchup. For the Panthers, the victory serves as a statement win, reigniting one of the league’s fiercest rivalries.
First Period [1-1] – Steelers and Panthers Battle to Stalemate After Physical First Perio
The Sheffield Steelers hosted the Nottingham Panthers at the Utilita Arena on Saturday night, renewing their fierce rivalry in league action. The Panthers returned for the first time since their Challenge Cup visit on October 5th, aiming to snap the Steelers’ remarkable 21-game winning streak against them.
From the opening puck drop, both teams set a physical tone. Joona Huttula delivered a pair of thunderous hits, including a clean but punishing check on Mitchell Fossier behind the Steelers’ net. The hit forced Fossier off the ice temporarily, leaving the Panthers scrambling to adjust. Not to be outdone, Otto Nieminen laid a big hit early, signaling the Panthers’ intent to match Sheffield’s physicality.
The Steelers controlled much of the opening frame, outshooting the Panthers 17-6 and dominating offensive zone time. However, their inability to finish chances would haunt them by the period’s end.
The physical play continued just four minutes in, as tempers flared behind the play. Marco Vallerand tangled with Jaakko Niskala, and Reid Stefanson joined the fray, earning all three players roughing minors. The ensuing power play gave the Steelers a chance to capitalise, and they briefly gained a 5-on-3 advantage when Jordan Kelsall was penalised for slashing.
Sheffield made the most of their momentum, breaking the deadlock at 7:34. Maxim Golod, in fine scoring form, received a perfect feed from Mitchell Balmas in the slot and rifled a shot over Ryan Bednard’s glove. Dominic Cormier also earned an assist on the opening goal.
However, the lead was short-lived. The Panthers responded swiftly, equalising at 9:56. A well-executed 2-on-1 break saw Sam Herr finish with precision, firing a blocker-side shot past Jere Huutamaa. Logan Neilson and Reid Stefanson picked up the assists.
The Steelers had multiple opportunities to retake the lead, with Cole Shudra and Robert Dowd both testing Bednard, but the Panthers’ netminder stood tall. Sheffield also failed to convert a power play late in the period after Didrik Henbrant was called for holding Huttula in the Panthers’ zone.
Despite controlling much of the play, the Steelers headed to the intermission tied 1-1, left to rue missed chances and Bednard’s stellar goaltending.
As the second period loomed, the Steelers aimed to build on their strong start and reclaim the lead, while the Panthers looked to disrupt their rivals’ rhythm and capitalise on their resilience in the opening frame. With the rivalry renewed, both teams prepared for what promised to be an intense and hard-fought middle period.
Second Period [1-3] – Panthers Take Control with Strong Second Period Against Steelers
The Sheffield Steelers found themselves trailing after 40 minutes as the Nottingham Panthers capitalised on their opportunities, adding two unanswered goals in the second period to carry a 3-1 lead into the final frame. Missed chances and a lack of offensive momentum haunted the Steelers, who managed just five shots on Ryan Bednard compared to the Panthers’ 12 efforts on Jere Huhtamaa.
The Steelers began the period brightly, with Kevin Tansey testing Bednard with a powerful slap shot from the blue line. However, the tide soon turned in favour of the Panthers as they began to dictate the play.
The breakthrough came at 25:48 when Sam Herr’s initial shot created chaos in front of Huhtamaa. The Steelers’ netminder made the save but couldn’t secure the puck, leaving Kristoff Kontos free to pounce and bury the rebound at the post. Didrik Henbrant earned the secondary assist, and the Panthers seized a 2-1 lead.
Not long after, Huhtamaa redeemed himself with a critical save on Mitchell Fossier. The Panthers forward, back in the game after a punishing hit in the first period, broke free on a one-on-one opportunity but was denied by Huhtamaa’s sharp right pad save.
The momentum remained firmly with Nottingham, and they doubled their lead at 30:30. Hugo Roy found himself unmarked in the slot, receiving a precise pass from Zsombor Garat. Roy showcased his skill, deking forehand to backhand before lifting the puck over Huhtamaa’s blocker for a 3-1 Panthers advantage.
The Steelers were given a chance to cut the deficit when Matt Spencer was penalised for boarding late in the period. Maxim Golod orchestrated some impressive puck movement on the ensuing power play, but the Panthers’ penalty kill unit stood firm, limiting Sheffield to just one quality scoring chance.
As the clock ticked down, the Panthers held firm defensively, repelling the Steelers’ late push and heading into the second intermission with a deserved two-goal lead.
With 20 minutes left to play, the Steelers faced an uphill battle to salvage points at home. They’ll need to rediscover their offensive spark and put Bednard under sustained pressure if they hope to mount a comeback in the final period. Meanwhile, the Panthers will look to maintain their discipline and capitalise on counterattacks to seal a statement road victory.
Third Period [2-4] – Panthers Snap Steelers’ Streak with Hard-Fought Victory
The Nottingham Panthers ended the Sheffield Steelers’ remarkable 21-game winning streak in dramatic fashion, claiming a 4-2 victory at the Utilita Arena. Despite a spirited effort from the home side, inefficiency in front of goal proved to be the Steelers’ undoing as they managed to convert just two of their 33 shots on Ryan Bednard.
Trailing by two goals entering the final frame, the Steelers needed a strong response. While they showed flashes of resilience, the Panthers delivered the decisive blow midway through the period.
The Steelers had an opportunity to build momentum early in the third when they successfully killed off a tripping penalty to Joona Huttula. However, the Panthers extended their lead at 51:29, courtesy of Sam Herr’s second goal of the night. Herr displayed impressive hand-eye coordination to control a bouncing puck in close before slotting it past Jere Huhtamaa. Assists were credited to Mitchell Fossier and Kristoff Kontos, capping a well-executed play that gave the Panthers a critical two-goal buffer.
Physicality remained a key theme as tempers flared late in the game. Maxim Golod and Didrik Henbrant were sent to the box for roughing after an altercation, but the Steelers maintained their composure to cut the deficit at 57:34. Patrick Watling, showing incredible determination from his knees, delivered a pinpoint pass to Daniel Leavens, who crashed the net and redirected the puck past Bednard for a consolation goal.
Despite a late push, the Steelers couldn’t muster the offense needed to draw level. The Panthers’ defensive structure held firm as the final buzzer sounded, securing a hard-earned two points for the visitors and ending the Steelers’ long-standing dominance in the rivalry.
Looking Ahead
The Steelers won’t have much time to dwell on the loss, as they face a quick turnaround with an away trip to Fife to battle the Flyers tomorrow evening. They’ll return to home ice next Saturday to take on the Coventry Blaze, aiming to regain their form and start a new winning streak.
