Sheffield Steelers 5-4 Nottingham Panthers (final score)

Conny Stromberg had to accept Sheffield Steelers' heartbreak tonight - but at least the team captured two valuable points.
Scorer Luke FerraraScorer Luke Ferrara
Scorer Luke Ferrara

The 40-year-old Scandianavian forward was dropped ahead of his new team's big derby test with Nottingham Panthers.

Stromberg had been looking forward to the Arena game which always attracts upwards of 6-7,000 fans.

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But the Swede's one assist in three games was just not enough to persuade coach Paul Thompson to ice him ahead of his other new signing, Ryan Hayes, the league's leading scorer.

It means Stromberg has played twice at Belfast Giants, once at Fife Flyers...but is yet to make his home debut.

Watching from the sidelines, the import watched Tyler Mosienko put Steelers ahead as defencemen Ben O'Connor and Cullen Eddy engineered the Power Play.

But two minutes later, we were all square with Logan MacMillan levelling.

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History repeated itself when Luke Ferrara showed his continuing promise when he made it 2-1.

However, an exquisite tip from Stephen Schultz gave Marek Pinc no chance...and the teams were level going into the first interval.

Both sides scored a brace in the second period, as well.

Paul Swindlehurst was first on the board, 50 seconds in, but that was cancelled out by Mathieu Roy's strike.

Jurak Kolnik, Panthers' chief pest for Sheffield this season, made it 3-4, but debutant Ryan Hayes equalised at 33;59.

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And Sheffield took the lead for third time when Cullen Eddy scored a one-timer.

The win meant Steelers are four points behind leaders Cardiff Devils - whom they meet Sunday night - with two games in hand.

Both championship rivals have won their last three games.

Devils beat Belfast 5-3.

Ryan Russell, Carl Hudson, Joey Martin, Chris Culligan and Guillaume Doucet claimed a goal apiece for the Devils with Chris Higgins on target with a second-period double and a further strike from Mike Wilson in response for the Giants.

RESULTS

Saturday 16th January

Elite League

Braehead Clan 3 Coventry Blaze 0

Cardiff Devils 5 Belfast Giants 3

Edinburgh Capitals 6 Manchester Storm 7

Fife Flyers 3 Dundee Stars 5

Sheffield Steelers 5 Nottingham Panthers 4

FIXTURES

Sunday 17th January

Elite League

Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers – 6.00pm

Coventry Blaze v Dundee Stars – 5.15pm

Manchester Storm v Fife Flyers – 5.00pm