Game Summary
The Sheffield Steelers weathered a late Dundee Stars rally to emerge 4-3 winners in a tense match-up in Scotland. After trailing 1-0 at the end of the first period, Sheffield roared back with a dominant second period, netting three unanswered goals to take control.
Patrick Watling led the charge with a pair of goals, while Mikko Juusola and Marco Vallerand added to the tally. Vallerand’s power-play snipe midway through the third proved decisive, extending the lead to 4-1 during a critical five-on-three advantage.
However, the Stars fought back with two late goals, including Brendan Harms’ strike in the final minutes with the extra attacker. Despite the late scare, Steelers netminder Matthew Greenfield and the defence stood firm to seal the win.
Joona Huttula earned Man of the Match honours for his stellar defensive display, while the victory capped a crucial four-point weekend for Sheffield.
The Steelers now look ahead to midweek action against the Guildford Flames before hosting their annual Teddy Toss night on Saturday.
First Period [1-0] – Steelers Stumble Early in Dundee as Stars Shine in Opening Frame
After snapping a four-game losing streak with a commanding win over the Coventry Blaze, the Sheffield Steelers headed north to face the Dundee Stars on their annual Teddy Toss night. With Nathan Ripley replacing Ivan Bjorkly-Nordstrom, head coach Aaron Fox largely retained the same lineup, though captain Robert Dowd remained sidelined.
The first period saw the home side take control, exiting the opening frame with a 1-0 lead. However, it could have been worse for the Steelers, as the Stars found the back of the net twice—only for one goal to be disallowed in a bizarre sequence.
The period started evenly, with both teams struggling to generate high-quality chances. Steelers netminder Matthew Greenfield was tested early, making an impressive right-pad save on Brendan Harms, who was fed by Jonathan McBean in tight. Greenfield’s sharp reflexes denied the low shot to keep the game scoreless.
The first buzzer moment came at 10:18 when the Stars thought they had taken the lead. Ben O’Connor’s dump-in from centre ice deflected off the skate of a linesman and slid into an empty net as Greenfield moved to intercept the puck behind his goal. The Stars’ celebrations were cut short, though, as the goal was waved off due to both the deflection and an offside call on Domineco Alberga.
It didn’t take long for the Stars to find a legitimate breakthrough. At 12:09, Alberga struck again—this time from just inside the blue line. His shot navigated traffic, beating a screened Greenfield to give Dundee a 1-0 advantage. Fortunately for the Steelers, the puck wasn’t tipped by a high stick in front of the net, ensuring the goal stood.
The disallowed goal seemed to energize the Steelers, who began to dictate play in the latter stages of the period. Despite being short-handed after a Sacha Guimond penalty, Sheffield created one of their best chances of the frame. Marco Vallerand and Mark Simpson combined on a two-on-one rush, but the Stars’ defence cut out the decisive pass to preserve the lead.
Maxim Golod and Dominic Cormier ramped up the physicality as the period wound down, trying to shift momentum in Sheffield’s favour. Yet, Stars netminder Jerrett Fiske stood tall, turning aside all of the Steelers’ late efforts to keep Dundee in the driver’s seat after 20 minutes.
The Steelers looked to build on their late first-period surge as they entered the second, seeking a way past Fiske and aiming to flip the script on a spirited Stars squad.
Second Period [1-3] – Steelers Dominate Second Period to Take Control in Dundee
The Steelers did flip the script in a commanding second period, turning a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead as they surged past the Dundee Stars to enter the final frame up 3-1. Sheffield’s relentless pressure overwhelmed the Stars, with netminder Jerrett Fiske putting on an admirable performance to keep the game within reach despite facing a barrage of shots.
From the opening faceoff of the period, the Steelers set the tone. Just two minutes in, Patrick Watling pulled Sheffield level with his first of the night. After Colton Saucerman’s slap shot from the blue line was blocked by Jonathan McBean, Watling pounced on the rebound, spinning to bury a backhander past Fiske at 22:00.
Watling doubled his tally midway through the period at 30:30. This time, Dominic Cormier set the play in motion with a wrister from the blue line. Watling, positioned perfectly in front of the crease, tipped the puck past Fiske, handing Sheffield their first lead of the night.
The Steelers showed no signs of letting up, with Daniel Leavens creating a brilliant opportunity as he danced past a defender at the blue line. His attempt to sneak the puck five-hole was denied by Fiske, who continued to stand tall under the onslaught.
However, Sheffield’s dominance eventually translated into a third goal at 37:38. A swift transition saw Mitchell Balmas streaking down the right wing before feeding Mikko Juusola, who tapped the puck home at the back post to give the Steelers a 3-1 cushion heading into the third period.
Matthew Greenfield was quieter in the Sheffield crease but came up big when called upon, particularly late in the period. A broken play led to Alex Robert breaking free on a two-on-one rush. Robert opted to shoot, using his teammate as a decoy, but Greenfield was equal to the challenge, stopping both the initial shot and the rebound to preserve the Steelers’ lead.
With 20 minutes to play, the Steelers find themselves in the driver’s seat. Their high-octane second-period performance will serve as the foundation as they looked to close out a crucial win in the final frame.
Third Period [3-4] – Steelers Survive Late Scare to Seal Four-Point Weekend in Dundee
The Steelers overcame a late surge from the Stars to claim a hard-fought 4-3 victory in Scotland, securing a vital four-point weekend. What initially looked like a comfortable win turned tense in the final moments, but the Steelers held on to return home with a much-needed boost in the standings.
Sheffield dominated possession and created the lion’s share of scoring opportunities throughout the game, despite the Stars staying close on the shot clock, with the final tally reading 40-38 in favour of the Steelers.
The breakthrough in the third period came during a crucial five-on-three power play at 53:26. Keanu Yamamoto was penalised for slashing Maxim Golod, followed immediately by Domenico Alberga’s face-off violation, giving the Steelers a two-man advantage. The visitors wasted no time capitalizsing, needing just 26 seconds to extend their lead. Daniel Leavens and Dominic Cormier orchestrated a perfect setup for Marco Vallerand, who unleashed a signature snipe from the right-wing circle, beating Dundee netminder Jerrett Fiske over the glove to make it 4-1.
However, the Stars refused to go quietly. At 56:07, Alex Robert charged into the slot and converted a crisp feed from Alberga, slipping the puck past Matthew Greenfield to cut the deficit to two.
Dundee’s coach, Marc Lefebvre, gambled by pulling Fiske for the extra attacker with over two minutes remaining. The strategy paid off at 58:53 when Brendan Harms buried a rebound after Greenfield’s initial save on Brett Gravelle ricocheted perfectly into Harms’ path.
With the lead trimmed to one, the Steelers dug deep, collapsing defensively to stifle the Stars’ final push. Greenfield and his blue liners held firm, ensuring Sheffield saw out the win and secured an important four-point weekend.
Joona Huttula earned Man of the Match honours for his standout defensive effort, which included several key stops and contributions on the attack.
The Steelers now return to the Utilita Arena on Wednesday to face the Guildford Flames before hosting the Glasgow Clan on Saturday for their highly anticipated Teddy Toss night. Fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals to be thrown onto the ice after Sheffield’s first goal—a cherished event in support of local charities.
📸 Dundee Stars / Derek Black