Lamppa ends Flyers' long wait for league win in Sheffield
Photo: Dean Woolley
Fife Flyers got their first Motorpoint Elite League win over Sheffield Steelers after 19 straight losses at the Utilita Arena with a 2-1 overtime victory.
“We feel great! That was a statement win for us," began Xander Lamppa, who scored the overtime winner. "I think we're kind of an underdog around the league, a lot of people are doubting us, but we have a fresh new group here and we've got some life!
"We're embracing a hard-working, mucky culture. It's working, it's been really fun to do. It's a great group of guys. We're gelling great, and all in all it's been a good start.”
After an opening 12 minutes with very few stoppages, including a nine-minute stretch without a whistle, the visitors opened the scoring. Rookie Canadian centre Zachary Power went for the wraparound and put the puck under the pad of Greenfield. The Steelers soon equalised, a shot from Aatu Aarnio beating a screened Dominik Groh for the Finn's first goal of the season.
The second period finished scoreless but with no shortage of opportunities. A Flyers powerplay produced two good chances in front of the net, while an excellent feed from boyhood Steeler Kyle Watson found Cole Stewart at the back post, but he was denied by Greenfield. The Steelers also had chances of their own, including a shorthanded drive from Evan Jasper.
“I think at the end of the day it probably wasn't good enough, and in the second period we lost the energy,” admitted Steelers' Sean Collins. “We have to get back to what makes us good: playing fast, playing in their end. It's nice that we have the game tomorrow to have a short memory and get straight back at it.”
Neither team could win the game in the third period, with the Steelers carrying most of the possession but the Flyers dangerous on the break.
The game was decided in overtime. Drábek drove the net and, while his shot was saved, the puck stayed in the crease for Lamppa to tap home and win the game. The net was knocked off by Greenfield on the original save, but the immediate scoring opportunity presented to Lamppa saw the goal given after a lengthy video review with a challenge for goalie interference by the Steelers' bench, just 18 seconds into overtime.
"My first thought was, 'I've seen this before, it's not going to be a good goal’,” revealed Lamppa. “I've seen goals happen before where if the net's off, and if the goalie pushes it off, it counts if the puck is put in through the pipes, and the more you watch the replay the more it looks like a good goal. I was just happy I was standing right there!”
