Great Challenge Cup Start for Steelers
With period scores of 0-3 / 0-3 / 0-0 Steelers dominated the Nottingham Panthers to come home with 2 Challenge Cup points and six different scorers.
Team News …
Steelers arrive in Nottingham for their first Challenge Cup game of the season
Aaron Fox sticks with the side that beat Coventry and Guildford last weekend so there is no room for Kameron Kielly and Brandon Whistle remains on the injury list.
Matt Greenfield starts.
First Period … Steelers lead 3-0
An incredible start for the Steelers with 3 first period unanswered goals.
Just 78 seconds in and Patrick Watling was causing trouble as he skated through the Panthers D, his assist set up Daniel Ciampini for the opening goal (Watling and Nicholls)
Just 3 minutes later (4.19) and Steelers had doubled our advantage.
Vallerand and Balmass with assists on Robert Dowds goal.
It was all Steelers with rare attacks from the home side and Matt Greenfield called into action only occasionally.
Ciampini (breakaway) and Simpson both went close before the Steelers added their 3rd and one goalie Mike Robinson would have wanted back.
16.46 and a goal out of nothing with Simpson backhanding a shot that found its way through Robinson (Diffley and Neumann assisting)
Second Period …
Steelers hit 3 in the first and they had another flourish at the end of the second period with a further 3 unanswered goals – we lead 6-0 in Nottingham after 40 minutes.
It was penalty time at the start of the period with the Panthers giving the Steelers ample power-play opportunities to put the game to bed
Otto Nieminen took two of them at 22.54 and 25.41, between those Adam Johnson took a tripping minor
Steelers huffed and puffed on the PP but couldn’t add to their 3 goal lead.
then it was Steelers turn to head to the box
Sam Jones (31.09) for tripping and then as we went back to full strength Mark Simpson (33.09) for a face off violation.
Steelers kill was outstanding with Greenfield only called on twice.
36.30 Steelers lead 4-0 as Scott Allen (Saucerman) scores with Colton Saucerman assisting
38.37 and it was 5-0 with Balmas assisted Nicholls
39.50 Marco Vallerand makes it 6-0 (Nicholls)
3rd period …
Steelers couldn’t add any further goals to the 6 already scored in the final period.
Panthers had ample power-play opportunities as Steelers gave up four penalties to one in the final session.
Final score in Nottingham
Panthers 0-6 Steelers.