Steelers are Playoff Champions again (From This Is Lancashire)

Steelers are Playoff Champions again

8:07am Thursday 9th April 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

Elite League Playoffs

First semi-final: Sheffield Steelers 5 Cardiff Devils 2

Second semi-final: Nottingham Panthers 6 Coventry Blaze 2

Playoff Final: Sheffield Steelers 2 Nottingham Pathers 0

The Elite League has brought the curtain down on another season with its annual extravaganza weekend at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.

It was a second successive Play-Off win for Steelers and their third in the EIHL, but for Panthers it was the third time they have tasted final defeat. The Steelers made it a double by adding the Play-Off trophy to their league triumph after coming out on top against great rivals Nottingham Panthers at the National Ice Centre in front of a capicity crowd.

After the opening period, Steelers were ahead by a single goal in a fast moving - hard hitting contest.

The goal came after 14.50 and came from the most unlikely of sources in Steelers rock-steady defenceman Steve Munn, striding over the blueline and unleashing a big shot that flew past goaltender Michel Robinson.

Earlier a smart Robinson save denied Ashley Tait but while Panthers had chances on the powerplay, they were struggling to breakthrough a solid Steelers defence.

There was no change to the scoreline after two periods, and the third period was pretty intense throughout but defences were very much on top.

Best chances fell late on to Panthers but both Jade Galbraith and Matt Myers were denied by the ever impressive Jody Lehman in the Steelers cage.

Going in to the third period, Steelers grabbed the crucial second goal at 44.37 when Ryan Finnerty slid the puck home after it broke perfectly to him with Panthers goaltender Michel Robinson having no chance to react.

From that point on it was the Steelers defence doing what they have done so many times this season - snuffing out the threat of the opposition, and with goaltender Jody Lehman as solid as ever he picked up his tenth shutout of the season and found the perfect way to round off a great season for him personally.

Steelers head coach David Matsos said: "I thought we were outstanding. We were clinical, from shift one we were all on the same page, we didn't give them much at all and when we did Jody shut the door.

Referring to a fight that developed on ice before the game started, he added: "I thought the incident in warm up helped us. When the guys got back to the room they were all so pumped, I think they enjoyed that. We showed Nottingham that we were ready, after that we didnt really see to much from some of their big guns.

"The game was pure Steelers Hockey, we gave Nottingham very little, we pressured their players and took advantage of our chances when they came. Steve Munn shocked the life out of us all with that goal, he was the only guy in the building who didn't think he was going to pass that puck.

"This isn't the end. Sure some players will leave us, but they will go for the right reasons, going to European Clubs who pay the big wages that we can't get close to. You can't stand in their way, they go with our blessing, we wish them luck, that's whats makes us different, special.

"I think the majority will stay, we will add where we need and try and do this all over again next year. I'm getting to like this feeling"

• Print
• Email
• Share