Game Summary
The Sheffield Steelers roared back from a two-goal aggregate deficit to defeat the Glasgow Clan 4-1 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate in a dramatic quarter-final second leg showdown at the Utilita Arena. With a raucous home crowd behind them and playoff intensity at full tilt, the Steelers delivered across all three periods and sealed it in style in overtime.
Facing a 3-1 aggregate deficit, the Steelers wasted no time getting back into the tie. Marco Vallerand made a surprise return to the lineup, and his presence helped energize the forward group from puck drop. After weathering some early pressure from the Clan, including a shot off the post, Sheffield seized control.
At 7:38, Mitchell Balmas broke free and fired over Bow’s glove to cut the aggregate gap. Less than a minute later, Brandon Whistle’s cross-crease effort deflected in off a Glasgow skate to level the tie. Despite a penalty kill situation later in the frame, the Steelers stayed on the front foot and nearly added a third. A late powerplay opportunity set the stage for more second period action.
Sheffield capitalised on their powerplay early in the second, as Kevin Tansey blasted a low shot home at 21:45 to put the Steelers ahead on aggregate for the first time. Bow was tested again as the Steelers poured on the pressure, but Glasgow slowly grew back into the period.
Matt Greenfield produced key saves to deny Cole Ully and Liam Finlay, while Cormier showed grit with a key shot block on a Clan shorthanded chance. However, Glasgow pulled level again late in the frame when Steven Seigo’s deflected shot looped over Greenfield at 37:14, setting up a dramatic final period with the score tied 4-4 on aggregate.
Tensions were high in the third, with physical play and playoff emotion spilling over. A scary moment came early when Deven Sideroff took a puck to the face, though he returned to his feet under his own power.
Sheffield killed off a penalty mid-period before drawing two late powerplays, including a brief 5-on-3. Balmas rang the crossbar in the dying minutes, but neither side could find the winner in regulation.
Overtime delivered end-to-end action, and at 62:23, Patrick Watling wrote himself into playoff lore. Daniel Leavens fed him from the left side, and Watling buried it top shelf to send the Steelers to Nottingham for the Final Four.
Matt Greenfield stood tall with 25 saves on 26 shots, while Sheffield outshot the Clan 40–26 in a complete team effort. The Steelers now await their semi-final opponents as they chase silverware at the Playoff Final Weekend.
First Period [2-0 (3-3)] – Steelers Erase Deficit with Explosive First Period in Quarter-Final Second Leg
The Sheffield Steelers came flying out of the gates in the opening period of the quarter-final second leg, overturning Glasgow’s two-goal aggregate lead with a relentless 20-minute display at the Utilita Arena.
With Marco Vallerand making a surprise return to the lineup during warm-ups, slotting in for Reece Kelly, the Steelers’ forward lines received a major boost ahead of puck drop. Once again, it was Matthew Greenfield and Landon Bow between the pipes for Sheffield and Glasgow respectively, setting up a rematch of Friday night’s netminding duel.
The opening exchanges were fast and physical, with both teams throwing the body early. The Clan threatened first, flashing two dangerous efforts across Greenfield’s crease in the opening minutes. The second even rang off the post, but bounced away to safety for the Steelers.
From there, the momentum swung heavily in Sheffield’s favour.
At 7:38, Mitchell Balmas pounced on a loose puck at the Clan blue line, broke away uncontested, and rifled a shot high over Bow’s glove to make it a one-goal game on aggregate. Defencemen Joona Huttula and Brien Diffley picked up the assists on the crucial opener.
The home crowd had barely settled before the Steelers struck again. Just 51 seconds later, Brandon Whistle drove down the right wing and attempted to thread a pass through the crease. The puck deflected off a Clan defenceman’s skate and squeaked through Bow’s five-hole to level the tie at 3-3 on aggregate. Juusola and Guimond collected the assists on a play that had both fortune and ferocity.
Despite being short-handed after Huttula was called for slashing at 9:22, the Steelers continued to press. Daniel Ciampini raced in alone on Bow during the penalty kill, forcing a brilliant, stretched pad save to deny the go-ahead goal.
The pressure kept mounting, and Bow was called into action again late in the frame. Dominic Cormier broke in alone and went to the backhand, but Bow turned him aside with a blocker stop before denying Juusola’s rebound attempt with another stellar save.
A late holding call on Simon Després at 19:55 handed the Steelers their first powerplay of the night, giving them a golden opportunity to open the second period on the front foot.
After 20 minutes, the Steelers had completely erased the first-leg deficit, leading 2-0 on the night and drawing level at 3-3 on aggregate in front of a roaring Sheffield crowd.
Second Period [3-1 (4-4)] – Tansey Strikes to Give Steelers Control Before Clan Strike Back to Level
The second period of the quarter-final second leg saw the Steelers momentarily seize control of the tie, powered by a clinical powerplay and rock-solid goaltending, before a late deflected goal brought the Glasgow Clan back level on aggregate.
Sheffield entered the frame with a man advantage after a late first-period penalty to Glasgow’s Simon Després, and they wasted little time converting. At 21:45, Kevin Tansey stepped into the right circle and ripped a low, precise shot past Landon Bow on the glove side to give the Steelers a 3-0 lead on the night and their first edge in the aggregate scoreline. Robert Dowd and Sacha Guimond picked up the assists on the go-ahead goal.
Moments later, the Clan nearly struck back when Cole Ully broke in alone, but Matt Greenfield came up big with a timely save to preserve the lead.
Glasgow’s discipline continued to cost them. At 30:56, Deven Sideroff was sent off for tripping, giving the Steelers a second powerplay of the night. Although Sheffield couldn’t convert this time, it was a gutsy defensive effort from the visitors. Dominic Cormier put his body on the line to block a dangerous Clan shorthanded attempt, absorbing the puck in what looked to be a painful stop.
Greenfield then turned in another moment of brilliance. With Liam Finlay bearing down on goal, Greenfield kicked away the initial shot with a strong leg pad save before flashing the glove to deny the rebound and keep the Steelers ahead.
Sheffield continued to press, with Kevin Tansey and Sam Tremblay nearly jamming one in during a wild crease scramble, but Bow managed to smother the puck and earn a whistle under heavy pressure.
However, the Clan would have the final say in the period. At 37:14, Steven Seigo’s point shot took a wicked deflection off a Steelers defenceman, looping over Greenfield’s glove and into the net to get Glasgow on the board. Assists went to Sideroff and Mitchell Heard on the fortuitous bounce.
The goal shifted momentum heading into the final period, with the Steelers leading 3-1 on the night, but the aggregate score tied at 4-4 and everything still to play for in a tense playoff battle.Top of Form
Third Period & Overtime [4-1 (5-4)] – Watling Wins It in Overtime as Steelers Book Final Weekend Spot
The third period and overtime of Sunday night’s quarter-final second leg at the Utilita Arena provided all the drama playoff hockey promises (and then some) as the Steelers completed a stunning comeback to punch their ticket to the Playoff Final Weekend in Nottingham.
The period began with a scare just 2:45 in when Deven Sideroff of the Clan took a wrist shot flush to the face. A lengthy stoppage followed as both physios and St John’s Ambulance personnel rushed to his aid. Thankfully, Sideroff was able to skate off under his own power, drawing an appreciative round of applause from both sets of fans.
The game soon shifted back into playoff mode, and at 48:39, Sheffield found themselves shorthanded when Cole Shudra was called for slashing, much to the frustration of head coach Aaron Fox. Despite the pressure, the Steelers’ penalty kill held firm, with several key clearances and tight defensive play denying the Clan any clean looks.
Offensively, the Steelers were knocking on the door. Patrick Watling sent a clever backhander goalward, nearly setting up a tap-in at the back post. Moments later, Daniel Ciampini nearly batted one out of the air off a shot from the half boards, continuing his strong chemistry with Watling and Mitchell Balmas.
The Clan’s discipline wavered late, giving the Steelers two powerplay opportunities in the final minutes. At 56:18, Tyson McLellan was called for a faceoff violation, and with just over two minutes remaining, Robert Lachowicz went off for tripping, handing Sheffield a brief 5-on-3. Balmas came closest to breaking the deadlock, ringing a shot off the crossbar from close range.
With the game tied 4-4 on aggregate and 3-1 on the night, overtime was needed. As time wound down, Landon Bow launched his helmet off with 35 seconds to go in protest, as the Steelers continued their push on the man advantage. But it would take sudden death to settle the tie.
In the 3-on-3 overtime, both teams traded high-octane chances. Dominic Cormier was denied on a drive, Juusola had a follow-up stopped, and the Clan countered with their own chance before Juusola tested Bow again.
But at 62:23, the arena erupted. Daniel Leavens skated into the Clan zone and fed a perfect pass across to Patrick Watling, who rifled a shot top shelf past a moving Bow to seal the win and send Sheffield to Nottingham for the Play Off Finals Weekend.
The Steelers outshot the Clan 40–26 on the night, with Matt Greenfield turning in another superb performance, finishing with a 96.15% save percentage. With the comeback complete and the job done, the Steelers now await the outcome of the other quarter-finals to determine their semi-final opponent at the Playoff Final Weekend.
