29 Nov 2023, 19:30 | Regular season | CC30 | IceSheffield |
Sheffield Steelers | 4-2 | Manchester Storm |
Periods: Shots: | 2-1 (18-11) | 0-1 (6-7) | 0-2 (10-2) | Total: 34-20 |
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Referees: Miller/Good  |  Spectators: 1285 |
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Goals and assists
Sheffield Steelers booked number one seed in the Quarter-Finals of
the Challenge Cup, and Manchester Storm scored the two goals they needed
to advance, after a 4-2 Steelers win at IceSheffield.
An end to
end opening period saw the Steelers come out ahead having created the
better chances over the first 20 minutes. Mark Simpson gave the hosts
the lead with 10:28 played, getting himself into a good position in the
centre of the slot to fire past Alex Oldale. Loren Ulett levelled just
under four minutes later with a tip on Zach Sullivan's shot from the
point, but Brandon Whistle had the Steelers back ahead by 18:14 with his
own tip on a Sam Jones shot.
Period two was much better for the
Storm, who were level 91 seconds in through Santeri Haarala - the Finn
getting a couple of bits at a loose puck that dropped to his feet in
close. Cam Critchlow should have put the visitors ahead not long after
but couldn't take the 1-on-0 chance, while at the other end Whistle went
for an extra touch instead of shooting that cost him the Steelers' best
chance of the middle frame.
Manchester stepped up a gear at the
beginning of period three and created some chances to take the lead, and
improve their seeding, but lacked the final touch to beat Anthony
Morrone. At the other end of the ice, Alex Oldale continued to impressed
on his first professional start with a string of saves to keep the game
level. Storm's resistance was finally broken by a Brett Neumann shot
from the wing at 48:40, with Dominic Cormier adding an insurance marker
with 2:17 to play.
The two teams will meet in the Quarter-Finals.