By Kris Smith
Dundee were missing six skaters when they arrived in Yorkshire. Bobby Chamberlain was drafted in as injury cover to help the short benched Stars attempt to overcome a strong Steelers side.
The Stars were gifted an early powerplay just 57 seconds into play as Levi nelson was penalised on a tripping call but they could not get an early lead on the road. It was the Steelers who got the game’s first goal, the puck was passed in front and Andreas Valdix finished high over the pads of Travis Fullerton at 4:07.
Sheffield quickly doubled their lead as André Deveaux dragged the puck around Fullerton to put it in an empty net, the goal came just 13 seconds after their last. A fast response was required from Dundee and Taylor Dickin gave it, his shot from the slot flew into the top corner to pull the score back to 2-1 at 6:16. Stars head coach Omar Pacha made a crucial defensive play to prevent another Steelers goal but Paul Thompson’s men were not backing off, Ben O’Connor found a third after he flung one into the top shelf at 12:47. The Dundee goalie got a piece of it but not enough to stop it. Fullerton redeemed himself minutes later as he made a a double save and the second was one for the highlight reel, he dove back across crease to block a Steelers shot with his stick.
Dundee started the second period with great chance but Ervins Mustukovs made the save on every effort. The Steelmen continued their dominance with a fourth goal, a mistake by the Stars defence gave left the puck for Levi Nelson, he shot the puck high past the Stars goalie at 22:12. Dundee’s injury concerns reached the tipping point when Travis Fullerton was accidentally hit in the throat by a flexing stick but he appeared to be okay.
Another mistake by the Stars left the puck for Andreas Jämtin and he made no mistake, Sheffield expanding their lead to 5-1 at 29:23. Dundee returned to their powerplay after Mark Matheson was penalised for tripping but it was the home side who took the advantage as they broke away 2-on-0. David Phillips and Brady Ramsay worked the puck back and forth between them with Phillips putting the puck in the net at 36:10, for Sheffield’s second shorthanded goal of the season.
Brad Day entered the Steelers net to start the third period but was immediately tested and after he stopped a few shots, he could not stop Malcolm Gould’s effort, as he pulled one back for Dundee at 42:12 . The home side had a 6-2 lead but it was Dundee pilling on the pressure trying to make something happen but Day stood strong. Omar Pacha’s hooking infraction put the Yorkshire team back on the powerplay, however the league’s leading powerplay eventually showed their ability on the man advantage as a quick one timer by Robert Dowd was too far out of reach for Fullerton and hit the back of the net at 16:39.Scott Aarssen recreated the score of Dundee’s last visit to Ice Sheffield, as his effort made it 8-2 at 19:10.
Dundee’s Brian Hart and Sheffield’s Ben O’Connor were chosen as each sides ‘Man of the match’ award winners.
Dundee now start planning their approach to this weekend when they travel to Kirkcaldy on Saturday night, to take on local rivals the Fife Flyers before returning to Dundee to face the Belfast Giants once more on Sunday evening.
Picture: Dean Woolley
