Picture Credit – Jess Cupitt
Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Dylan Pick
The first meeting of the biggest rivalry in British Ice Hockey went the way of the Sheffield Steelers as they beat the Nottingham Panthers 4-1 on the road in their third Challenge Cup game of the season.
The last time these two sides met was at the Play-Off Semi-Final at the end of the previous season where the Panthers ended up on top on their way to winning their first bit of domestic silverware since 2016.
Aaron Fox’s men didn’t get off to the best of starts as the hosts ran into a one goal lead just 55 seconds into the fixture, a two on one breakaway that saw Nolan Volcan set up Matthew Marcinew.
Period one continued to be dominated by the Panthers, but Matt Greenfield stood tall making 13 saves and the home-side’s job difficult.
Coming out for the second period though the Steelers looked a different side, coming out with a new energy led by Stephen Harper who got a brace just seven minutes into the second period.
Special teams also were a strong aspect of the visitors’ game, having to kill off two tough penalties in the second period.
Sheffield continued their momentum in the third as they jumped on a turnover and put a couple nice passes together to set Brien Diffley up to equal his goal tally last season in just three games.
Nottingham thought they got back in touching distance as they made the most of a couple of bounces going their way but the eventual goal was disallowed following a coaches challenge for Netminder Interference.
Evan Jasper got rid of any hopes for the Panthers to pull netminder Jason Grande as just after a timeout ripped one into the top corner to secure their first road win.
Up next for the Steelers is another Cup match against the Manchester Storm at the Utilita Arena tomorrow afternoon.
