Game Summary
The Sheffield Steelers were back in league action on Wednesday night as they travelled north to take on the Glasgow Clan following a confidence-boosting Challenge Cup win over Coventry last weekend. It was a hard-fought contest from start to finish, with the Steelers coming from behind before ultimately falling 3–2 in overtime.
New signing Mitchell Heard made his first appearance in orange against his former club, adding extra spice to a fixture that already promised intensity. With Mikko Juusola and Nick Seitz unavailable through injury, Reece Kelly stepped up into a forward role alongside Cole Shudra and Logan Neilson, while Matthew Greenfield got the start in goal opposite Clan netminder Sami Aittokallio.
In an evenly contested game, the Steelers showed real resilience, killing off four Clan power plays in the middle frame and finding a late equaliser through Derek Gentile to secure a point on the road. Despite a brave performance and standout goaltending from Greenfield, the extra point would stay in Glasgow after a 3-on-3 overtime winner from Jason Fram.
First Period: End-to-End Action Ends Even (1–1)
The game opened at a blistering pace, and it took less than a minute for Robert Dowd to test Aittokallio with the game’s first effort. The early tempo continued as the Clan looked to press, drawing a save from Greenfield through Lachowicz on a tight angle.
The breakthrough came at 2:40, and it was the Steelers who struck first. A hard-working shift from Dowd and Evan Jasper saw the puck worked into the slot, where Sam Tremblay made no mistake, dropping to one knee and rifling a shot top corner to make it 1–0 Steelers.
The Clan responded strongly, forcing Greenfield into a series of sharp stops, including efforts from Hazeldine and Sideroff. Both sides traded chances in a high-paced opening, with Heard and Harper going close at one end before Greenfield held firm at the other.
Pressure eventually told, however, as Glasgow found their equaliser at 17:05. Mihkali Teppo converted from close range after a neat feed from behind the net, levelling the score at 1–1. Despite the Clan outshooting Sheffield 13–6 in the first period, the Steelers’ defensive discipline and Greenfield’s composure ensured the teams went to the break on even terms.
Second Period: Defensive Discipline Defines the Frame (1–1)
The second period proved to be a battle of special teams, with the Steelers’ penalty kill stealing the show. Early on, Cliff Pu was assessed a high-sticking minor, and soon after, minor scrums in front of the net saw Sam Tremblay and Jarusek join him in the box. The Steelers, however, stood tall, led by Cormier and Tansey at the back and Greenfield’s calm presence in goal.
A too-many-men penalty midway through the frame added to the pressure, but once again, the Steelers’ penalty killers did their job. Greenfield denied Burke from the slot and reacted quickly to cover loose pucks in front.
The middle period saw Glasgow enjoy the lion’s share of shots, but Sheffield’s four-for-four performance on the kill, including a late penalty to Tremblay kept the game deadlocked.
Despite being outshot 24–11 through forty minutes, the Steelers’ shape and hard work without the puck ensured they entered the final period still level and very much in the contest.
Third Period & Overtime: A Battle to the Wire (Final: 3–2 OT)
The third period began with the Steelers’ first chance on the powerplay after Schwartz was called for tripping. Despite some good movement, the visitors couldn’t convert, and the game remained finely poised.
Moments later, Greenfield produced arguably the save of the night, denying Neumann on a breakaway as he tracked the puck perfectly to his glove side. However, the Clan capitalised soon after; Neumann making no mistake at 46:12, blasting home from the slot to give Glasgow a 2–1 lead.
The Steelers showed immediate response and spirit. Tremblay came inches away from equalising as his shot rang off the crossbar, and the pressure eventually told at 52:38. Derek Gentile found himself in the right place at the right time to bury a rebound at the back post, assisted by Cormier and Balmas, levelling the game at 2–2 and sending the travelling fans into celebration.
Both goaltenders stood firm in the final minutes, with Aittokallio denying Pu and Greenfield turning away another long-range effort from Hazeldine. The sixty minutes couldn’t separate the sides, sending the game to 3-on-3 overtime.
In the extra frame, chances came at both ends. Heard set up Southorn for a promising look, but Aittokallio came up big. Greenfield then produced another point-blank save on Schwartz to keep it alive. Unfortunately, the deciding moment arrived at 63:20, when Jason Fram finished a two-on-one at the back post to give Glasgow the extra point.
Man of the Match & What’s Next
Dominic Cormier was named Man of the Match after a strong all-round display, while Greenfield’s 32-save performance kept Sheffield in the fight throughout.
Next up, Aaron Fox’s men head back to Coventry on Saturday night in a repeat of last weekend’s Challenge Cup clash before returning home to the Utilita Arena on Sunday to face the Cardiff Devils in what promises to be a crucial Group Stage fixture.
