Alternative Match Report: Steelers @ Clan 15/02/2011

Alternative Match Report: Steelers @ Clan 15/02/2011

Tuesday night at Braehead Arena threw up an interesting tie between Clan and table toppers Sheffield. A game which threatened to boil over on a couple of occasions, was won fairly comfortably by the visiting team.

The league leaders came to Braehead Ice knowing that 2 points would stretch their time at the top that bit longer before the weekend's round of games. A victory for Braehead would see them regain 5th place from Coventry and further solidify the franchise's intent of being the fighting newcomer to the league, in contrast to the wimpy new kid of earlier in the season.

This new found hard hitting Clan side, who have toughened up since Kyle Bruce returned from injury and Jordan Krestanovich got his match fitness up, competed toe to toe with Sheffield for the majority of this match. However, the Steelers are top of the league for a reason, and a mix of instinctive finishing and resolute defending saw them win out.

It took them all of 4 minutes to take the lead. A power play goal from Clark was the first bit of action in a hotly contested opening 20. Krestanovich brought Clan level after good work on the right from Haywood and Landry, left him with time to pick his shot.

The phrase "they don't like it up them" is indicative of Sheffield's reaction to this, as the rest of the period was littered with penalties for hooking and slashing, culminating in Steeler Hewitt and Clan's Bruce having a spot of fisticuffs near centre ice.

Referee Hanson let it continue for a while, with neither man really getting the upper hand. Bruce's fan salute as bs was led to the box would suggest he declared himself the victor, lapping up the cheers as he went. Both men got 5 for fighting as Braehead looked the hungrier side. The period ended with no further scoring.

Clan's exertions of the 1st told at the start of the second. Munn put Steelers 2-1 ahead with an angle shot from the left that beat Perras to his back pipe. Hewitt was then binned for 2+2 for high sticking Dom Noel in the face. In the final 60 of the PowerPlay, Steeler's stole a shorthanded strike through Simon's breakaway.

3-1 down just before halfway, Clan would have to do well to keep a lid on the scoring. A loss of concentration and discipline would have been easy, as seen in earlier games, but Coach Richardson's men stuck to the task.

Mustakovs in the Steelers net was living a charmed and well protected life for most of the game, but he was beaten for a second time on 33 minutes. Cook's drive to the net was blocked, as was Richardson's close range effort and Kyle Bruce was on hand to poke home at the back stick. A 6 on 5 attack after a penalty call on Hewitt was Clan's best chance of a leveller, but even with the PP, they couldn't get past Mustakovs.

As the second period fizzled out, the onus was on Clan to find a way through a fairly solid Sheffield back line. The hard hits of the first period must have been taking hold on Richardson's men. They gave as good as they got though with Richardson, Cook, Bruce and Noel all taking and giving hefty knocks throughout the 60 minutes.

The game was put to bed less than 2 minutes in to the 3rd. The Clan D backed off as Hewitt approached and he made the little time he spent out of the box count by beating Perras. For the remaining 18 minutes, Sheffield shut up shop with an impressive defensive display. No amount of huffing and puffing from the home team could break down their wall. Perras was pulled with around a minute left but to no avail.

Despite outshooting Sheffield 26-19, the goals wouldn't materialise.

Sheffield stretched their lead by a further 2 points over Cardiff and Belfast, while Braehead stay 6th. The visit of the freefalling Capitals on Saturday evening should be just the tonic to recover from the defeat. (Provided they don't pick up a chill from topless waitering at the fans Valentine's dinner that is...)

Krestanovich picked up the home team Man of the Match beers, while Mustakovs was awarded for Sheffield. Final score at Braehead Arena, Clan 2- Steelers 4.