Steelers edge past Flames again

Photo: John Uwins

Sheffield Steelers completed a perfect Week 10 against Guildford Flames, adding a shootout win on Sunday to their overtime victory in midweek. Both teams took a point from regulation after another tight, competitive meeting at the Spectrum.

Guildford made the stronger start and were rewarded late in the first period. With under two minutes to go, Travis Brown carried the puck out of his own zone and set up Josh Nixon, who battled at the top of the crease to force the puck past Matt Greenfield for the opener. Ten seconds before the break, Josh Waller’s hard work along the boards created space for Ethan Strang, who fired high past Greenfield for a 2-0 Flames lead.

“We had a good feeling throughout the whole 65 minutes,” said Waller. “In the first period I thought we could have been up by more than two.”

Sheffield responded quickly at the start of the second. Stephen Harper’s initial effort was saved by Jake Kupsky but the rebound popped up for Cliff Pu to lift in from close range. The Steelers then pushed hard, forcing turnovers and sustained pressure, although Kupsky made several key stops in his return to the Guildford crease. Waller added: “It was great to have Kupsky back. I thought he had a great game and we were good defensively.”

Guildford briefly thought they had restored their two-goal cushion when Brown’s point shot caused chaos around the crease, but the officials ruled goaltender interference. Moments after the Flames returned to full strength, Sheffield levelled. From a tight angle, Harper squeezed a shot inside the post to make it 2-2.

“I think we came out pretty flat and they were firing,” admitted Sheffield’s Evan Jasper. “Credit to them for being a lot more prepared than we were. But we got a quick one in the second, got some momentum, and that carried through.”

Jasper then struck just 26 seconds into the third, jamming the puck in from behind the net to give the Steelers their first lead. “I figured I’d try to catch the goalie off guard,” he said. “I jammed it as much as I could and got lucky.”

The Flames fought to the end and were rewarded with 93 seconds left. With Guildford pushing on the powerplay, Jamal Watson fed Waller, who fired through traffic, followed up his own rebound, and levelled the game at 3-3. “We were down 3-2 with a bit of desperation,” said Waller. “I threw it on net and luckily got the rebound.”

Overtime produced chances at both ends but no winner, sending the game to a shootout where the Steelers clinched the extra point to finish the week with two wins over the Flames.