TRADE-MART DUNDEE STARS 2 SHEFFIELD STEELERS 6
The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars went toe-to-toe with the reigning Elite League treble champions but could not find a winner as they were locked in a stalemate for 50 minutes before Sheffield Steelers powered on to claim 6-2 victory.
By Kris Smith
In the first period both teams battled hard and went back and forth with attacks as they searched for the opening goal but each side’s goaltenders started the game in fine form.
The first goal would come on seven minutes as Brandon Whistle redirected Kevin Tansey’s rising shot from point blank range past Jarrett Fiske in the Dundee goal but the home team would find a way to draw level just four minutes later.
Stars forward, Jake Elmer was bursting forward on the attack when he tried to slip past a Sheffield defenseman but lost the puck, the Taysiders quickly recycled the play and as Drydn Dow fired a backhanded shot towards goal, Elmer was perfectly positioned on the doorstep to catch the puck, knock it down and drag it around Matt Greenfield to tie the game.
However, the reigning Elite League treble holders quickly regained their lead as Marc-Olivier Vallerand unleashed a rapid wrist shot from the left wing that flew straight over the shoulder of Fiske, inside 16 minutes.
The Stars did not look disheartened and were straight back on the attack, which eventually saw them tie the game up in the 16th minute, as Zach Tsekos won the puck from a face-off in the Sheffield end and Brendan Harms put the puck in off the underside of the crossbar.
The two teams were still tied heading into the second period and Marc LeFebvre’s men survived some early pressure from the Yorkshire club before almost getting ahead for the first time in the game as Alex Tonge picked out Keanu Yamamoto in behind the Steelers defence but Greenfield would deny the attempt.
Yamamoto would have a few more chances in the middle stanza but just could not find a way past Greenfield and Tonge would also be denied from close range but Aaron Fox’s side still proved how dangerous they can be and Fiske was kept busy but after 40 minutes the match was still level at 2-2.
In the third period, the game would remain level for 10 minutes before finally the go-ahead goal came when Dundee had pressure in the Sheffield end but Dow failed to connect with the puck on his shot attempt and that allowed the Steelers to get in behind on a breakaway and Mitchell Balmas converted high past Fiske.
The visitors then finally found some breathing room in the 56th minute as Mikko Juusola punished the Stars on another breakaway and as Dundee threw everything at the Steelers, including an extra attacker in place of their goalie, Juusola would clinch the victory for Sheffield with an empty-net goal on 58 minutes.
Although, the scoring was not finished there and Colton Saucerman added a sixth for the English club, 30 seconds from full-time as he blasted a slapshot past Fiske, leaving Dundee still searching for their first league point.
Next weekend, Marc LeFebvre takes his team on the road as they visit Guildford Flames and then Cardiff Devils in a double header of away games.
Man of the Match
Dundee: #33 Jarrett Fiske
Sheffield: #92 Mitchell Balmas
Goals
1st:
0-1 Brandon Whislte (Kevin Tansey, Dominic Cormier) 07:16
1-1 Jake Elmer (Drydn Dow, Domenic Alberga) 11:28
1-2 Marc-Olivier Vallerand (Mikko Juusola, Colton Saucerman) 13:52
2-2 Brendan Harms (Zach Tsekos) 15:10
2nd:
3rd:
2-3 Mitchell Balmas (Robert Dowd) 50:42
2-4 Mikko Juusola (Kevin Tansey) 56:13
2-5 Mikko Juusola (Daniel Ciampini) 58:47 ENG
2-6 Colton Saucerman (Joel Janatuinen, Cole Shudra) 59:31
All images: Derek Black.
