Steelers edge past battling Panthers to stay perfect
Photo: Panthers Images
Sheffield Steelers came out of Nottingham with their perfect start to the season still intact, ending the Panthers’ unbeaten streak in the process, with a 4-3 win at the Motorpoint Arena.
The Steelers got off to the quicker start and were ahead in just over a minute - a fortunate bounce saw the puck put home by Mikko Juusola with only 76 seconds played. After conceding, the Panthers were arguably the better team and generated some good possession in the Steelers' zone. Their efforts were rewarded when Tim Doherty tipped Jaakko Niskala's shot in front of Matt Greenfield to tie the game at 6:42.
The Panthers nearly went ahead when an Otto Nieminen stick lift dispossessed Colton Saucerman, only for the puck to roll off the Finnish forward's stick at the final moment.
The hosts were undone by excellent work from Robert Dowd to set up an odd-man rush where Marc-Olivier Vallerand fired high past Ryan Bednard to put the Steelers back ahead with 7:23 played. Logan Neilson had the Panthers’ best chance to tie the game before the end of the first period but shot just wide of Greenfield’s left post.
A wonderful individual effort from Didrik Henbrandt got the Panthers level 1:23 into period two, the Swede's quick hands beating Greenfield at the top of the crease as the home side deservedly drew level. The Panthers looked busy on the next few shifts after the goal, Hendrandt almost scoring again only for Dowd to make the all-important interception as the puck went across the crease.
Having not scored while they had the momentum, the Panthers slowly found themselves under more Steelers pressure. Bednard made two important stops in close, but eventually the visitors’ made their puck possession count. Brandon Whistle was tripped while through on Bednard, and he duly dispatched the penalty shot with 4:04 left in the second to put Sheffield back in front.
The Panthers' effort couldn't be faulted in trying to tie the game for a third time, but they ddin't call Greenfield into any big saves for most of the final period. With 1:36 to go, Bednard was pulled but Whistle won the following faceoff allowing Kevin Tansey to fire into the empty net from the length of the ice. It looked like the game was done, but a sam Herr shot beat Greenfield out of nowhere to make it a one-goal game with 66 seconds remaining. The Panthers had the puck in front of Greenfield in the final minute but couldn't carve out a tying opportunity and the visitors took the points.
