Aggregate 10-0 hiding for Sheffield Steelers against Nottingham Panthers (2-0 on the night)

It was Mission Impossible - no team can come back from an 8-0 cup-semi-final first leg hiding.
Jace Coyle goes up close and personal against Nottingham PanthersJace Coyle goes up close and personal against Nottingham Panthers
Jace Coyle goes up close and personal against Nottingham Panthers

But Sheffield Steelers coach Paul Thompson had made clear his side was obligated to go out in the second-leg and redeem themselves.

Find some pride in your club, your jersey and your city was the message.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the end of the Challenge Cup Semi-Final second Leg, which they lost 2-0, there wasn’t much dignity to show for a 10-0 total deficit.

A Sheffield goal to break the monotony of two-shut outs would have brought some comic relief.

But the best you can say is that it is over and Sheffield can concentrate again on the League, and Saturday’s visit of Dundee Stars to the scene of Tuesday’s Cup crime.

Panthers had American Shane Madolora in their goal and he confidently dealt with a number of early Steeler efforts, as did Marek Pinc at the other end.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was satisfying to see Evan Mosey, who started the landslide win on Tuesday with his goal, flattened by a big check.

There was no need for Nottingham to go chasing goals, given the aggregate situation, but they put Pinc under pressure and he responded with three big saves before the first interval.

Andy Bohmbach, who had drawn another stop from the Czech netminder, put his side ahead on the night at 24;14, converting a rebound amid a scramble around the crease.

Two minutes later it was 2-0, with unmarked ex-Steeler Chris Lawrence, sticking the puck home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Pinc was the main reason why Corey Neilson’s team didn’t quickly follow another.

The evening livened up briefly when Mathieu Roy and Robert Farmer had a brief skirmish, at 37.01

Then it was back to business with Pinc again showing he had recovered some of his confidence after being hooked the previous night.

A Zack Fitzgerald v Cam Janssen bout signalled the start of a few spats and some interesting interaction between Jason Hewitt and the home fans.

But the moment of the night came when Pinc saved a shot and then stretched his hands above his head to ironically encourage some crowd acclaim - showing at least he can roll with the punches.