Flames keep up excellent record in Sheffield

Photo: Dean Woolley

Guildford Flames won their fourth straight game in Sheffield, and first of this season, thanks to a shootout victory over the Steelers in front of 6,548 fans at the Utilita Arena.

Peter Crinella scored the only goal of the opening period when he poked home a rebound from a Brett Ferguson shot that MAtt Greenfield had stopped with 5:23 played. 4:18 into period two, Steven McParland beat Greenfield on the powerplay to put the visitors two up. 

It was an even game but the Steelers were becoming more dangerous as things went on. Brett Neumann nearly finished in close on Eamon McAdam with 28:55 played off a Mikko Juusola feed as the home side's pressure eventually told. They hit McAdam's goal frame early in period three before Daniel Ciampini deflected Colton Saucerman's shot past McAdam with 12:39 to play while Ben O'Connor sat for Hooking. The Steelers could have won it in the last ten minutes, but in the end were indebted to Greenfield for denying Lewis Hook with a last-ditch pad save in the final minute.

Overtime was equally as exciting. Both sides hit the iron within 30 seconds of each other, with the Steelers surviving thanks to Mitchell Balmas blocking a shot with his face that then deflected onto the crossbar.

The Steelers thought they'd won it late, but goal was washed out for the time having expired before the puck crossed the line - the on-ice officials coming to a 'no goal' decision after conferring at centre ice.

In the shootout, McAdam stopped all four Steelers attempts he faced, while Crinella, McParland and Ryan Tait all scored to give the Flames the extra point.