Steelers shutout Panthers on boxing day

The Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers came into Thursday evenings game both with 28 points, but with the Steelers ahead in fourth place so the game was crucial in catching the top three.

Both teams came out strong, getting some shots off but Frank Doyle and Neil Conway were strong in stopping everything in the first half of the opening period.

Then with 14.41 played, the Steelers struck. Drew Fata and Steven Goertzen got the assists as Rob Dowd fired the puck home to give the Steelers a 1 - 0 lead much to the delight of the home fans.

Despite outshooting the Steelers 12 - 9 in the opening frame, the Panthers trailed by a goal after the first period.

Nottingham continued to outshoot their opponents in the second period but again were unable to find twine. Instead it was the Steelers who struck again.

Midway through the second, Rob Sirianni netted his 12th of the year with Rob Dowd picking up the lone assist as the Steelers went up 2 - 0.

Neither team could find the net in the second or third period and Sheffield took the crucial two points on home ice, with Frank Doyle stopping all 34 shots he faced for his third shutout of the year.

Panthers Man of the Match - Matt Francis (0 G 0 A)

Steelers Man of the Match - Frank Doyle (34 saves, shutout)

The win moves the Steelers level on points with third place Dundee with 30 but with one more game played.

The two teams will face eachother again on Saturday in Nottingham, with Nottingham now playing catchup as last years champions remain in fifth place.

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