Game Summary
The Sheffield Steelers delivered a statement performance on Friday night, dismantling the Glasgow Clan 10-2 in a dominant road victory that keeps their title chase alive. From the opening puck drop, Sheffield was in complete control, showcasing relentless attacking play and clinical finishing across all three periods.
The Steelers wasted no time asserting themselves, scoring just 13 seconds into the game as Mikko Juusola buried a two-on-one chance set up by Brandon Whistle. A costly turnover in the Clan zone led to a second goal at 2:26, with Daniel Leavens finding the net with a knuckling shot past Landon Bow.
Despite a powerplay opportunity, Glasgow struggled to generate offense, while Steelers’ goaltender Matthew Greenfield stole the show with a jaw-dropping paddle save on Mitchell Heard at 16:16. The period ended with another Steelers goal, as Leavens struck again at 19:21, firing high glove-side after Sam Tremblay’s hard work on the forecheck.
The Steelers continued to dominate in the second frame, piling on five more goals to put the game out of reach. With Lucas Brine replacing Bow in the Clan net, Sheffield wasted little time extending their lead.
Marco Vallerand made it 4-0 at 26:07, sniping over Brine’s shoulder, before a powerplay rocket from Mitchell Balmas (30:05) pushed the lead further. Leavens completed his hat-trick at 34:17, finishing a slick feed from Vallerand, and though Glasgow got on the board at 35:29 through Mitchell Heard, the Steelers responded 28 seconds later (35:57) with Balmas’ second of the night.
The period ended with another highlight-reel moment, as Patrick Watling (37:27) showed incredible patience before lifting a backhander over Brine, making it a staggering 8-1 after 40 minutes.
With the game in hand, Marco DeFilippo took over goaltending duties, but the Steelers’ attack remained relentless. Leavens bagged his fourth goal at 42:48, capping off an incredible night. Watling got a fortunate bounce at 47:14, his attempted pass deflecting past Brine to make it 9-1.
The Clan responded through Robert Lachowicz (50:01), but the final word belonged to Sheffield. A near miss from Marco Vallerand (56:20) kept the Steelers from adding an eleventh, but the 10-2 scoreline was more than enough.
With Daniel Leavens named Man of the Match for his four-goal performance, and both Steelers’ netminders combining for a 93.94% save percentage, Sheffield left Glasgow with two vital points and a huge confidence boost.
They now return home to face the Manchester Storm on Saturday night, looking to carry their momentum into another crucial Elite League clash.
First Period [0-3] – Steelers Storm Out of the Gate with Dominant First Period Against Clan
The Sheffield Steelers wasted no time making their mark in Friday night league action, exploding out of the gates with a three-goal first period to take control against the Glasgow Clan. With a game in hand on the Nottingham Panthers, the Steelers knew a win would see them climb back into second place, and they came out firing at Braehead Arena.
It took just 13 seconds for Sheffield to strike. Brandon Whistle and Mikko Juusola raced away on a two-on-one, with Whistle sliding the puck across for Juusola to tuck home at the back post, giving the visitors the perfect start. Moments later, the Steelers capitalised on a costly turnover in the Clan zone. Daniel Leavens found himself with time in the slot, and despite a wobbling shot, he found a way past Clan netminder Landon Bow at 2:26 to double the lead.
The Steelers continued to push, generating multiple odd-man rushes. At 9:40, Mitchell Balmas and Juusola broke away again, but Balmas fired just wide. Glasgow’s first real threat came at 10:55, when Tyson McLellan danced through the Steelers’ zone, only to lift his backhand effort over the bar.
The Clan had a chance to claw their way back into the contest when Sam Tremblay was sent to the box for tripping at 11:25. However, Matthew Greenfield was up to the task, making a sharp glove save on Steven Seigo before kicking away another dangerous effort after the face-off. The Steelers successfully killed off the penalty and immediately went back on the attack, forcing another two-on-one at 14:00, where Leavens was denied by Bow’s quick glove.
Then came the highlight of the period. At 16:16, Greenfield delivered a jaw-dropping save that left the arena stunned. With Mitchell Heard alone at the top of the crease, the Clan forward seemed destined to score until Greenfield threw out the paddle of his stick in mid-air, robbing him in spectacular fashion. Moments later, he shut the door again on Josh Hazeldine to preserve the two-goal advantage.
With the period winding down, the Steelers struck once more. Tremendous work on the forecheck by Sam Tremblay at 19:21 saw him battle to win back possession in the offensive zone before feeding Leavens, who cut to the slot and ripped a shot high glove-side for his second of the night.
A flying start, highlight-reel heroics from Greenfield, and a two-goal period from Leavens put the Steelers firmly in the driver’s seat after 20 minutes in Glasgow.
Second Period [1-8] – Steelers Dominate Second Period with Offensive Explosion Against Clan
The Steelers turned up the heat in the second period against the Glasgow Clan, piling on the goals in a relentless offensive display to take full control of the game. With Landon Bow replaced by Lucas Brine in the Clan net, the Steelers wasted no time in testing the new goaltender.
Just 90 seconds into the period (21:30), Mikko Juusola’s shot from the slot deflected perfectly into the path of Robert Dowd, but Brine slid across to make a strong save. Dowd came close again at 23:00, breaking in alone and aiming high glove-side, but his shot sailed just over.
The breakthrough in the period came at 26:07 after a long, grinding shift in the Steelers’ zone. A hard-fought battle finally saw Sheffield gain possession, and Patrick Watling controlled the puck beautifully at the other end before finding Marco Vallerand. With space to work with, Vallerand rifled a shot over Brine’s shoulder at the near post to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Steelers’ relentless forecheck continued, with Finlay Ulrick and Cole Shudra battling hard in the Clan zone at 28:15. Ulrick’s initial effort was stopped, and Shudra just missed converting the rebound. Seconds later, a bit of ill-discipline from Glasgow gave Sheffield their first powerplay of the period when Simon Després was sent to the box for cross-checking at 28:40.
Sheffield made no mistake with the man advantage, striking at 30:05 with pinpoint passing around the Clan zone. The puck found Mitchell Balmas, who dropped to one knee and ripped a shot over Brine’s glove for a highlight-reel finish.
Just over four minutes later (34:17), the Steelers’ powerplay struck again, this time sealing Daniel Leavens’ hat-trick. Marco Vallerand delayed his pass as he drove toward the net, drawing in the defence before dishing across to Leavens, who had a gaping net to fire into.
Glasgow finally got themselves on the scoreboard at 35:29, when Matthew Greenfield made the initial stop on Mitchell Heard but saw the puck deflect straight back to the Clan forward, who buried the second chance. However, the Steelers responded immediately, and just 28 seconds later (35:57), Mitchell Balmas restored the six-goal advantage with a quick strike to make it 7-1.
The onslaught wasn’t over. At 37:27, Marco Vallerand set up Patrick Watling right in front of Brine, who had no chance as Watling patiently pulled the puck to his backhand before lifting it over the glove. It was yet another clinical finish from the Steelers in a period packed with offensive fireworks.
After 40 minutes of sheer dominance, the Steelers held a commanding 8-1 lead, with Daniel Leavens’ hat-trick leading the charge in a statement performance.
Third Period [2-10] – Steelers Hit Double Digits in Dominant Night Against Clan
The Steelers showed no signs of slowing down in the final period against the Glasgow Clan, rounding off a commanding performance with a 10-2 victory on the road. With Matthew Greenfield given a well-earned rest, Marco DeFilippo stepped in between the pipes for the third period, looking sharp from the get-go.
Just 2:48 into the period (42:48), Daniel Leavens continued his incredible night, netting his fourth goal as the Steelers remained relentless in the offensive zone. It was yet another example of Sheffield’s high-pressure forecheck, forcing turnovers and capitalising on every opportunity.
DeFilippo was quickly called into action, pulling off a double save at 45:35 to keep the Clan at bay. But when it’s your night, it’s your night, and at 47:14, Patrick Watling got a fortunate bounce to make it 9-1. His attempted pass across the crease took a wild deflection, looping over Brine and into the net before the Clan goaltender even knew where the puck had gone. That made it a four-point night (2+2) for Watling as the Steelers continued to pour on the offense.
Glasgow did manage to pull one back at 50:01, as Robert Lachowicz found space in the slot and blasted a shot past DeFilippo low to the left side. The Steelers’ netminder stood firm for the remainder of the game, though, tracking a tight-angle effort from Tyson McLellan well at 51:45 and covering up the rebound quickly.
The Steelers nearly added another at 56:20, with Robert Dowd setting up Marco Vallerand for a quick-release shot from the slot, but Brine got his shoulder in the way.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Steelers completed a perfect 10, securing two more crucial points to keep their title hopes alive. Despite the lopsided scoreline, the shots on goal were nearly even (34-33 Steelers), proving that clinical finishing made the difference. Daniel Leavens was rightfully named Man of the Match, capping off a stellar four-goal performance.
Both Sheffield netminders combined for an impressive 93.94% save percentage, compared to Glasgow’s 70.59%, further highlighting the Steelers’ dominance at both ends of the ice.
With the job done in Glasgow, the focus now shifts to Saturday night’s home clash against the Manchester Storm, as Sheffield looks to keep their momentum rolling in the Elite League title race.
📸 Glasgow Clan / Al Goold