The Sheffield Steelers rang in the New Year with a commanding performance, securing a 4-2 victory over the Manchester Storm at Altrincham. A dominant opening period set the tone as the Steelers built an early lead, but the game’s story unfolded through three hard-fought periods of hockey.
The Steelers exploded onto the ice, netting three goals in under four minutes to silence the home crowd. Maxim Golod opened the scoring at 10:43 with a sharp finish off a slick setup from Robert Dowd, sparking a scoring surge. Mitchell Balmas followed with a burst down the right wing, beating Evan Weninger to make it 2-0, with an assist credited to goaltender Matthew Greenfield.
The highlight of the period came at 14:39 when Cole Shudra forced a turnover and fed Mark Simpson for a one-timer that stunned Weninger. The Steelers took a decisive 3-0 lead into the first intermission, leaving the Storm scrambling for answers.
The Storm regrouped in the middle frame, cutting the Steelers’ lead to one. Captain Cam Critchlow’s solo effort at 23:58 put the Storm on the board, and Alexis D’Aoust capitalised on a defensive lapse later in the period, bringing the score to 3-2. Despite the Storm’s momentum, Sheffield’s penalty-killing units were rock solid, quelling multiple Storm powerplay opportunities.
The final period showcased the Steelers’ defensive resilience. Matthew Greenfield stood tall, making key saves to deny the Storm an equaliser. With time winding down and the Storm pressing with an extra attacker, Kevin Tansey delivered the insurance goal with a pinpoint backhanded clearance into the empty net at 59:50.
The win propels the Steelers into third place in the standings, just eight points shy of the league leaders, with two games in hand. Sheffield now looks ahead to a crucial home clash against the Guildford Flames on Saturday at the Utilita Arena. Puck drops at 7 PM.
First Period [0-3] – Steelers Surge Past Storm with Explosive First Period in New Year’s Clash
The Sheffield Steelers opened their New Year’s Day clash against the Manchester Storm with a dominant first-period performance, flipping the script from their previous meeting. Despite a strong start from the Storm, the Steelers roared back with three goals in under four minutes to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Storm came out firing, pinning the Steelers in their zone and forcing Matthew Greenfield to make key saves on efforts from Noah Carroll, Loren Ulett, and Ryan Hughes. However, a sixth-minute penalty to Ulett for pulling down Kevin Tansey behind the Steelers’ net proved to be a turning point. While the visitors couldn’t convert on the powerplay, the momentum began to shift.
At 10:43, the Steelers struck first with a quick transition. Robert Dowd set up Maxim Golod, who beat Evan Weninger with a perfectly placed shot over the catcher. The goal opened the floodgates for Sheffield.
Just three minutes later, Mitchell Balmas extended the lead. His burst down the right wing ended with a sharp shot that Weninger failed to handle, as the puck trickled past his pad and over the line. Greenfield earned an assist on the play, showcasing his all-around contribution for the second game running.
The period’s highlight came at 14:39 when Cole Shudra forced a turnover at the Storm blue line. He quickly fed Mark Simpson in the slot, who rifled a one-timer past a scrambling Weninger. The goal stunned the home crowd and forced the Storm to call a timeout to regroup.
The Steelers controlled the remainder of the period, heading into the intermission with a decisive three-goal advantage and all the momentum.
Second Period [2-3] – Storm Rally in the Second to Close the Gap on Steelers
Despite the Steeler momentum from the first, the Storm clawed their way back into the game during a gritty second period, scoring twice to cut the Steelers’ lead to 3-2 heading into the final frame.
The Steelers started the period on the front foot, with Marco Vallerand, Maxim Golod, and Robert Dowd combining for a promising chance. Dowd found himself in space at the high slot, but his shot sailed high over Evan Weninger’s net as the puck rolled awkwardly off his blade.
Momentum shifted at 23:58 when Storm captain Cam Critchlow showcased his individual brilliance. After winning a faceoff outside the Steelers’ zone, Critchlow outworked the defence and fired a precise shot past Matthew Greenfield’s outstretched right pad to bring the Storm within two.
Despite being handed their first penalty kill of the evening after Vallerand was sent off for hooking, the Steelers’ special teams stood firm, limiting the Storm’s opportunities and protecting Greenfield’s crease effectively.
The Storm’s persistence paid off again shortly after the penalty expired. A defensive lapse by the Steelers allowed Alexis D’Aoust to slip into the slot unmarked, and he made no mistake, firing past Greenfield to make it a one-goal game. Assists went to Grant Hebert and Gianluca Estevez on the play.
The physical intensity ramped up midway through the period when Finlay Ulrick’s collision with Weninger drew the ire of Critchlow. Both players received penalties, with Ulrick picking up an additional two minutes for goalie interference. However, the Steelers’ penalty kill unit rose to the challenge once more, keeping the Storm at bay.
Late in the period, tempers flared again when Brandon Whistle was left doubled over in pain after a heavy hit at centre ice from D’Aoust, who was penalised for interference. The Steelers created a flurry of chances on the resulting powerplay but couldn’t find a way past Weninger.
As the horn sounded, the Storm had firmly swung the momentum in their favour, setting up an intense final period with everything to play for.
Third Period [2-4] – Steelers Seal Victory in a Hard-Fought Final Period
The Steelers capped off a determined performance with a resilient third-period effort, securing a 4-2 victory over the Storm and extending their win streak to three games since their Boxing Day defeat.
The period began with intensity, as Dallas Ehrhardt battled through the Steelers’ defensive zone, but a loose puck was swiftly covered by Matthew Greenfield. A slash on Greenfield’s glove by Ryan Hughes sparked a confrontation with Colton Saucerman, resulting in a Steelers powerplay. However, the man-advantage woes continued for Sheffield, as they failed to capitalise on any of their six opportunities throughout the night.
The penalty kill unit, in contrast, was a shining beacon of the Steelers’ defensive effort. Greenfield stood tall during a crucial kill after Robert Dowd was called for interference, making consecutive stellar saves, sliding post-to-post to deny the Storm a tying goal.
Patrick Watling nearly extended the Steelers’ lead midway through the period. His initial effort from the left wing tested Evan Weninger with an awkwardly placed shot. Moments later, Watling was fed again in the left circle, but Weninger aggressively closed the gap to thwart the chance.
With just 90 seconds remaining and the Steelers facing an icing call, the Storm pulled Weninger for the extra attacker. The added pressure pushed Sheffield’s defence to the brink, but Kevin Tansey ultimately sealed the victory. Known for his long-distance precision, Tansey launched a backhanded clearance the full length of the ice into the empty net at 59:50, delivering the insurance marker the Steelers needed.
The victory pushed the Steelers into third place in the standings, benefiting from a Guildford Flames win over the Cardiff Devils. With two games in hand, Sheffield now sits eight points off the top spot, with momentum hopefully on their side.