Panthers fail to rise to the occasion as Steelers nick it
THERE were tears on and off the ice as Nottingham Panthers' play-off dream ended in abject disappointment at the National Ice Centre last night.
Once again, bitter rivals Sheffield Steelers found what it takes to win the big games as they retained their Elite League Play-Off trophy with a 2-0 scoreline in a final that failed to hit the heights.
Sheffield had hardly shone in beating a lacklustre Cardiff side 5-2 in Saturday's first semi-final.
So last night's disappointment was perhaps made even worse because of the anticipation of a Panthers power-show, following their 6-2 thrashing of Coventry Blaze in their semi-final 24-hours earlier.
A rare goal from defenceman Steve Munn (14.50) – which I'm told looked offside by fans better placed than me – gave Steelers a first period lead and something to defend.
And Ryan Finnerty made sure with the second, four minutes into the third period, squeezing the puck home at the near post via Michel Robinson's shoulder.
As teams have discovered previously, the key to unlocking Sheffield is to score early and force them out of their defensive shells.
But when they have a rock solid defence with goalie Jody Lehman in such good form, and riding his luck, too, the longer the games goes on the more the opposition takes chances.
But Panthers' power-play failed to click and when they were looking for something special or just a slice of luck to turn the game their way, they were found wanting.
Sheffield ground out the league title playing exactly the same way and give them and coach Dave Matsos due credit for that.
But lining up the defence on the blueline is certainly not something I'd like to watch every week.
It gets the job done, though, as we saw against a previously explosive Panthers side that struggled to get their usual flowing game together.
Pointedly, Panthers enjoyed their best spells just before Steelers scored each of their goals.
Dan Tessier – playing his last game as a pro before joining the Canadian police – fluffed his shot on the power-play when the net was gaping.
And when Steelers came back to full strength, Munn skated down the middle to drill in the opening goal.
Although failing to make their power-plays tell in the first, Panthers still looked the more dangerous in the second period, with Cook, Johan Molin and Dan Tessier having decent chances. And at the start of the third period, Panthers piled on the pressure with man of the match Brendan Cook twice being denied by Lehman.
But Sheffield broke clear and when Panthers failed to get the puck away, Finnerty was allowed too much time to flip it past Robinson.
A reckless slash by Brad Cruikshank with just over six minutes left gave Panthers another power-play chance which they again squandered.
And when player-coach Corey Neilson was sin-binned for hooking in the last two minutes after he fanned on a shot, it called for desperate measures, literally.
Bench coach Adam Goodridge is still convinced Lehman's stick was illegal after he called for referee Moray Hanson to check its dimensions.
Instead of having to kill a penalty, it would have been four-on-four had the stick been found to have been too wide and Lehman penalised.
Then Goodridge would have called Lehman's replacement stick as well to hopefully put Panthers on a last-gasp power-play.
But Hanson clearly thought otherwise, Panthers were penalised for delay of game and that was it.
It's just a pity that, at the final hooter, Lehman saw fit to rush over to taunt the Panthers fans rather than celebrate with the Steelers faithful.
But Sheffield never have been magnanimous in victory – despite them having plenty of practice... unfortunately.
Panthers v Coventry semi-final report at www.thisispanthers.co.uk
11 Comments
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by Deb, Notts
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 12:59PM
“This story is on a website called 'This is NOTTINGHAM', it is published in the NOTTINGHAM Evening post. Notice the theme yet? Did you really think that a Nottingham based writer was really going to write a story on this from a Sheffield point of view? I am yet to see any neutral stories in the Sheffield Stir!”
by Wolfie, Sheffield
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 8:05PM
“Mick Mick Mick, just who exactly are you trying to convince that this is a remotely accurate account of the weekend?
Yet again, this reads like another humorous, indiscreetly biased article written by a bitter, bitter panthers fan who can shake the taste of defeat.
As i and many other fans have always said, Neil Black can spend what he likes, lose championships and choke in finals, but the moments where stick measurements are called and players are getting typically petty; those are the priceless moments.
Anybody for a glass of particularly sour grape wine? (vintage 1956, naturally).”
by Ian, Sheffield
Monday, April 06 2009, 8:43PM
“It's hardly surprising the Panthers fans had a better view of Steve's goal, they were obviously at the game, whilst this sad bitter reporter wasn't. Tge Steelers had battled hard against a determined Devils on saturday afternoon, and had Tom Darnell to contend with in the bargain. Nottingham free skated arround a Coventry team who just went through the motions, embarrassing their loyal fans by showing them just how much they appreciate their support. My daughter U12 team would have shown more spirit !!!!!
In Sundays final, if Panthers thought they had a tough game against Blaze, they came in for a nasty shock. out-played and totally OUT-CLASSED. All the Stealers were at the game, no-one shirked responsibility. The fans were loud and proud, more than can be said for those at the other side of the rink, but then, they aren't exactly used to that winning feeling, are they ?
And as for that sad, desperate stick call with 2 minutes to play......... just what did they expect the outcome to be ? Sorry Jody, your stick's too big so we're going to take 10 shots saved from you, and credit Panthers with 10 goals ?????? Get real, it was just typical of underhand, class-less Panthers, grasping at straws. Jody's just a tad too smart to stitch up his team MATES with a stunt like that.
15 years of Play-Offs and 8 wins. A record.
Statistics (and the league table at the end of the season) don't tell lies.”
by Matt, Sheffield
Monday, April 06 2009, 5:27PM
“what is this guy talking about? so so bitter, im sorry, it must feel awful, and if the only way to make yourself feel the slightest bit better is to waste readers time (or make them laugh in the case of steelers fans) then go ahead because when it all comes down to it, we are the elite league champions and the playoff champions yet again.”
by donna, CHILWELL
Monday, April 06 2009, 12:59PM
“So nice to see the Steeler fans have nothing better to do with their time other than to leave sarcastic comments....i assume you have nothing else in your life??? thought not!
Perhaps you can club together and get your Alan Carr Goalie some new specs...poor guy launched himself into the plexy glass at the Panther end instead of celebrating with the rest of the team and the fans at the other end of the ice.....He should of gone to SPECSAVERS!!
(the above comment is deserved following his attack on the Nottingham team and fans)”
by scott, Carlton
Monday, April 06 2009, 11:57AM
“Once again another biased article from Mr.Holland. Please remove those black and gold blinkered specs before you watch a game, thats if you were even there, by the sounds of it.”
by Tom, Nottm
Monday, April 06 2009, 10:24AM
“Steelers have deserved it this year! consistant & played well. Think a few players need to look at their performance this year & ask was it my best - Galbraith in particualr! There's a few more who ive been let down by - but the seasons gone & move on.
I don't really read match reports from the various clubs & reporters as they all seem to be watching different games! - i go off supporter option! - from what i gathered Panthers ruibbish/didn't turn up & steelers did - end of
Next year will be tough for panthers, heard most Brits will be going from us (only rumored though - Meyers (Blaze) Clarke & M.Richardson (Europe)
Be interesting to see who Steelers recruit for the 2009/10 season - its down to verner & reiter to replace Lehman its pretty inevitable!”
by Geoff Middleton, Stafford
Monday, April 06 2009, 10:16AM
“You can't help but smile at Mick Holland's reports. As usual, all the objectivity of a bitterly disappointed Panthers fan. Finals that Panthers lose are always lacklustre, penalties against Panthers are always debatable or harsh, Steelers are always playing boring hockey. The fans Mick asked about the 'offside' goal of Steelers - they wouldn't happen to have been Panthers fans would they? And the bench coach who was 'convinced' the stick was illegal - he just happened to be from Panthers, too. Of course, the referee will have got it all wrong - it was against the Panthers, after all.
This report follows the familiar pattern of many others Mick has written following Steelers' victories over Panthers.
But then, Mick and Panthers have never been magnanimous in defeat against the Steelers, despite all the practice...”
by Knowledge, Nottingham
Monday, April 06 2009, 9:31AM
“Do you want some cheese with that whine John?”
by brian, worksop
Monday, April 06 2009, 9:31AM
“Don't know which game you were at. Panthers were thrashed by a much more skilled and better supported team.”