31 Mar 2024, 17:30 | Regular season | Altrincham Ice Dome |
Manchester Storm | 4-5 OT | Sheffield Steelers |
Periods: Shots: | 1-1 (9-15) | 1-3 (11-13) | 2-0 (22-19) | 0-1 (2-3) | Total: 44-50 |
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Referees: Brown/Miller  |  Spectators: 2450 |
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Goals and assists
Manchester Storm came back from two down to earn themselves a point
against the league champions, but the Steelers struck just over three
minutes into overtime to take the bonus point in front of 2,450 fans in
Altrincham.
Manchester started well and were
deservedly ahead off a Matt Murphy powerplay goal through traffic just
3:57 into the game. The hosts were rushing forward at speed, but gut
caught on the rush the other way as Mitchel Balmas fed Patrick Watling
for the back-post finish at 12:05.
In period two, it was again the home side that
struck early – Johnny Corneil took the puck towards the boards and
headed towards the net, beating Anthony Morrone with a file-hole finish
just shy of the 25-minute mark. Storm were in the ascendency and should
have gone further ahead – only a fantastic sprawling save from Morrone
stopped Stephen Johnson adding the hosts’ third. That save was key to
the visitors turning the game on its head in quick succession. Patrick
Harper's shot rolled across the crease and deflected in off CJ Garcia's
skate to level the game at 30:48, while just over two minutes later Mark
Simpson shot neatly through a screen to make it 3-2.
Storm killed a two-minute 5-on-3 to start
period three, giving them some momentum after falling behind. After a
series of chances, and excellent stops by Morrone including a poke check
on a Mitchell Martan breakaway, the home side’s pressure eventually
told with Callum Fryer following up a rebound from a Corneil effort to
make it a one-goal game with 9:29 to play. The noise levels in the
Shelter went up a notch and their team responded – on the powerplay, Joe
Morrow crashed a shot home through traffic to tie the game with 2:58 to
play.
Both teams taking a point after regulation
felt a fair reflection on the game, while in overtime both Weninger and
Morrone came up big to keep the game alive. Niklas Nevalainen won it for
the Steelers 3:04 into bonus hockey with a shot into the very top
corner of Weninger’s net.