Flyers take Semi-Final first leg lead

Photo: Flyers Images

Fife Flyers will take a one-goal aggregate lead into their Viaplay Challenge Cup Semi-Final second leg in Sheffield in February after a battling 3-2 win over the Steelers on Wednesday night.

The Flyers, who are ninth in the league, ended period one with a deserved two-goal lead over the second-placed Steelers. A powerplay goal at 14:06 put the Flyers ahead with Mikael Johansson getting a fortunate bounce - or smartly banking it off a defenseman - to put the home side ahead. 

With 29 seconds left in the opening period, Zack Phillips' slapshot beat Matt Greenfield from the circle to double the hosts' advantage. 

Robert Dowd got the Steelers on the board 7:20 into period two with the puck off on a Niklas Nevalainen shot to beat Shane Owen in close. The visitors tied the game through Martin Látal who converted Danny Kristo's clever fake and pass on the powerplay at 31:53. 

However, the Flyers weren't to be denied a first-leg lead. 3:30 into period three, Brayden Sherbinin followed up on his own rebound the beat Greenfield at the second attempt.

The teams meet for the second leg on 15 February at the Utilita Arena.