Jasper with a Brace
The Sheffield Steelers bounced back in style on Sunday afternoon, beating the Fife Flyers 6-3 in front of the Orange Army on Country Night at the Utilita Arena.
Aaron Fox’s side produced a blistering opening period, racing into a 4-0 lead through Aatu Aarnio, Ryan Tait, Logan Roe and Evan Jasper.
Fife responded strongly in the middle period with three unanswered goals to cut the gap to just one, but the Steelers regained control in the third.
Jasper scored his second of the game to restore some breathing room before Olivier Archambault added Sheffield’s sixth to secure an important Elite League victory.
First Period – Steelers Come Flying Out
After Saturday night’s narrow 1-0 defeat in Cardiff, the Steelers were looking for a response and they certainly produced one during an outstanding opening 20 minutes.
Sheffield were handed an early power play when Cameron Hough was called for hooking, and although the home side were unable to convert, the pressure continued.
The breakthrough arrived at 5:43.
Aatu Aarnio stepped forward and fired an excellent shot high above the glove of the Fife netminder to give Sheffield the lead.
The advantage was soon doubled.
Good work from Adam Rockwood created the opening for Ryan Tait, who made no mistake in front of goal to put the Steelers 2-0 ahead.
Sheffield continued to dominate possession and were handed another power-play opportunity when Evan Dougherty was called for interference.
Again the Flyers survived the initial pressure, but moments later the puck broke kindly to Logan Roe, who unleashed a superb finish into the top corner to make it three.
Fife challenged the goal, but the decision on the ice stood and the Steelers remained firmly in control.
The Flyers were then left short-handed following the unsuccessful challenge and Sheffield took full advantage.
At 15:17, Evan Jasper found the net to make it 4-0 and complete a devastating spell from the home side.
Fife had a power play of their own late in the period when Ryan Tait headed to the penalty box, but the Steelers penalty kill stood firm.
The period ended with a little added edge as Flyers captain Garet Hunt exchanged words with the Sheffield bench.
After 20 minutes, however, the scoreboard told the story.
Steelers 4-0 Fife Flyers
Second Period – Flyers Fight Back
If the first period belonged entirely to Sheffield, the second was Fife’s response.
The Flyers began to generate pressure and were rewarded when Zach Power found space and fired a superb shot high past Matt Greenfield to get the visitors on the scoreboard.
Moments later, Adam Rockwood was assessed a minor penalty for a face-off violation.
With Logan Roe also subsequently called for tripping, Fife were handed a five-on-three opportunity.
They didn’t need long to make it count.
Mika Partanen converted with the two-man advantage to reduce Sheffield’s lead to 4-2 and suddenly the visitors had momentum.
Fife then struck again with another powerful wrist shot into the top corner, cutting the Steelers’ advantage to just one.
From 4-0 down, the Flyers had made it 4-3 and the game had completely changed.
Sheffield responded by slowing things down and attempting to regain control through the latter stages of the period.
Chances came at both ends, but there was no further scoring before the second intermission.
Steelers 4-3 Fife Flyers
Third Period – Jasper Restores the Cushion
The physicality increased early in the third period after Mikko Juusola was caught by a heavy hit and required medical attention on the ice.
Juusola left the game following the incident, with no penalty called on the play.
The Steelers did not allow the disruption to knock them out of their stride.
As the period progressed, Sheffield began to rediscover the composure that had been so evident during the opening 20 minutes.
And eventually they found the crucial fifth goal.
A scramble developed around the Fife crease and Evan Jasper was on hand to force the puck home for his second of the afternoon.
The goal restored the two-goal advantage and gave the Steelers some much-needed breathing room.
Tempers briefly flared afterwards, with Adam Rockwood stepping in as the physical intensity continued.
Sheffield were not finished.
Olivier Archambault added the sixth goal to put the contest beyond the Flyers and complete an impressive response after Fife’s second-period comeback.
From there the Steelers controlled the closing stages to secure a deserved 6-3 victory.
Jasper’s two-goal performance earned him the Steelers Man of the Match award on an afternoon when Sheffield showed both their attacking quality and their ability to respond after being put under pressure.
Final Score
Sheffield Steelers 6-3 Fife Flyers
Steelers scorers:
Aatu Aarnio
Ryan Tait
Logan Roe
Evan Jasper x2
Olivier Archambault