Week 7 in the EIHL

22 Oct 2012 | Ollie Hampson

Sheffield made it a 6 point weekend with a third win in three days. The Braehead Clan maintained their unbeaten home record, with a victory against the Fife Flyers with a late goal to win the game.

Friday 19 October
Cardiff Devils – Sheffield Steelers 3:4 After penalty shootout.

The Devils travelled to Sheffield to face the Steelers in a challenge cup match, but 60 minutes couldn’t separate the two sides.
Drew Fata opened the scoring for the Steelers late in the first period but any momentum gained heading into the second period was quickly stopped. Ben Davies levelled the game early in the second, followed quickly by Tyson Marsh to give the Devils a 2-1 lead.
However it was the Steelers who would take the lead going into the second intermission, a goal from Shawn Limpright, quickly followed by Steven Goertzen gave the home side a 3-2 lead heading into the final 20 minutes.
Cardiff left it late to level the score, but with 6 minutes left, captain Stuart MacRae made it 3-3 who sent the game to overtime.
With no score after the 5 minute period, Drew Fata grabbed the winning goal in a shootout.
Steelers 4:3 Devils.

Saturday 20 October

Dundee Stars – Hull Stingrays 3:4
Hull managed to snap an eight game losing streak with a win against the Dundee Stars on Saturday, despite holding a commanding lead heading into the third period.
Dundee found the net first, Billy Bagron opening the scoring for the visitors, only to see the score level minutes later as Jeff Smith scored at 11.26. Jason Silverthorn gave the Stingrays the lead late in the first period which ended the period 2 – 1 to the Stingrays.
Mike Wirll had an opportunity to level the game with a penalty shot in the second period, but the shot amounted to nothing, then minutes later, Janis Ozolins extended the Stingrays lead at 24.20.
2 minutes into the third, Ozolins grabbed Hulls fourth goal, however Billy Bagron began the comeback for Dundee, netting his second of the game 2 minutes later.
Despite a goal by Pat Bowen, Dundee were unable to come back from the 4-1 deficit.
Stingrays 4:3 Stars

Fife Flyers – Braehead Clan 3:4
The Braehead Clan maintained their unbeaten home record, with a victory against the Fife Flyers with a late goal to win the game.
Fife found the net first, Casey Haines beat goalkeeper Garret Zemlak at 5.29, quickly followed by John Dolan at 8.34, giving the visitors a 2 goal advantage going into the first intermission.
Despite starting the period with a powerplay, Braehead were unable to make the short man advantage count, however Bobby Chaumont found the net 29 seconds into the period, shortly after the Flyers returned to full strength.

Sheffield Steelers – Coventry Blaze 3:0 Elite League
Coventry struggled to get going in a one sided affair as the Steelers netted in every period to take the two points.
Tom Sestito of the Philadelphia Flyers and in Sheffield for the lockout, grabbed the first goal at 3.27 while Steven Goertzen netted the second midway through the second and Lee Esders finished the scoring with a shorthanded goal midway through the third.
Sheffield outshot their opponents heavily, with 43 shots compared to Coventry's 14, as Sheffield take the deserved 2 points, finishing with four points for the weekend.

Sunday 21 October
Nottingham Panthers – Cardiff Blaze 1:2
Cardiff managed to finish the weekend with 3 out of 4 points after a Shootout loss to Sheffield on Friday.
A very high tempo and close first period ended scoreless with both sides registering 12 shots on net.
However as the second period got underway, the Panthers had many opportunities after the Devils gave up the puck easily, eventually proving costly as David Clarke struck first at 23.33 with a slick wrist shot past goalie Phil Osaer.
A lack of discipline in the third period by the Panthers cost them dearly, as Max Birbraer scored twice on two different powerplays to give Cardiff at 2:1 lead.

Coventry Blaze – Edinburgh Capitals 1:0
An early goal from Ross Venus in the first period was enough for the Blaze to take the victory.
Despite plenty of opportunities throughout the game, neither team could capitalise further, and with Tomas Hiadlovsky pulled, Edinburgh couldn’t level the game.
Edinburgh now only have a single win from their last seven games.

Hull Stingrays – Sheffield Steelers 2:4
Sheffield made it a 6 point weekend with a third win in three days.
Jeff Legue registered the only goal of the first 20 minutes at 10.01, firing the puck past Geoff Woohlouse.
Tom Sestito was ejected after a hit to the head on Stingrays Andy Ward in the 24th minute, and handed an additional fighting call along with Hulls Ryan Hand.
After the ejection, Colin Shields extended the lead at 32.09 but Hull drew the game back to within one at 36.50 with a shorthanded shot from Matty Davies.
Janis Ozolins grabbed his third goal of the weekend and levelled the scoring at 42.05 on the powerplay but the Steelers answered with two powerplay goals of their own. Matt Stephenson scored at 53.02 and then Ryan Finnerty at 56.55 to give the Steelers a 4 -2 victory.

Fife Flyers – Dundee Stars 0:1
Bill Bagron grabbed the early and only goal at 1.16 to give the Stars the victory and ensure Fife finished week 7 without a point.
Both teams had a handful of opportunities but Fife couldn’t stop Dundee from sealing their sixth straight home win.