Autocraft Telford Tigers faced off against Sheffield Steeldogs on Saturday evening four points behind Solway Sharks who held the final play off place in the league standings. With import forward David Thomson, Ross Connolly and Edgars Landsbergs returning from injury the home side were hopeful that this would spur the team on to climb the table.
Sheffield scored the only goal of the first period despite Tigers playing well. Charlie Thompson shot through the legs of Brad Day from close range to give the visitors the lead. Telford almost levelled when Eric Henderson broke away and hit the post with a wrist shot.
In the early stages of the second period Telford deservedly drew level whilst on the power play. With Ivan Bjorkly Nordstrom and Elmeri Hallfors in the penalty box Tigers has a two man advantage. Sheffield net minder Daniel Crowe saved a Scott McKenzie shot, Devon Skoleski sent the rebound towards goal and with Crowe unaware of where the puck was, Fin Howells got the final touch to push the puck over the line.
Tigers then took the lead whilst still on the power play with Henderson shooting from just inside the blue line, beating Crowe.
But the lead only lasted two minutes as Sheffield hit back to level the game. Danny Rose was serving a tripping penalty allowing Jonathan Phillips to take advantage and draw the sides level.
The game was finally poised throughout the third period and both teams had chances. With three minutes of the game left it looked like Telford had won it when Henderson was sent in on goal by Skoleski and hit a superb back handed wrist shot low past Crowe.
Sheffield equalised a minute later with Tigers unfortunate to concede the goal. As Sheffield pulled Crowe from goal to add an extra attacker, Rose’s attempted clearance hit a Sheffield attacker and landed perfectly for Phillips to pass across goal to Sam Tremblay who shot past Day.
With no further scoring, the game went to overtime. A Skoleski shot hit the post for Telford but Sheffield would win the game on a controversial non-call from referees Brooks and Hamilton.
Sheffield were guilty of having too many men on the ice when Nordstrom left the bench and skated to centre ice before Walker Sommer had left the ice, giving the visitors an opportunity to break on the the Tigers goal.
The issue was compounded by McKenzie dropping his stick by the Tigers’ goal and having to retrieve it allowing Nordstrom to find the unmarked Tremblay who shot into the top left hand corner of the goal to win the game.
Tigers gain a point in the league standings but will feel they deserved more from the game.
Final Score: Autocraft Telford Tigers 3 Sheffield Steeldogs 4.
Scorers: Eric Henderson (2) and Fin Howells.
Man of the match: Eric Henderson.
After the game Head Coach Tom Watkins, commented, “That’s a tough way to lose, conceding in overtime after the officials miss a too many men call, which was very clear. There were at least three of the officials in good positions to see this and it should not be missed. Nordstrom is in the middle of the ice when he receives the puck, it’s not like he is just stepping onto the ice from the bench, with Sommer still clearly on the ice and skating towards the bench. Nordstrom is stealing a huge advantage. He’s at least 30 feet from the bench when he receives the puck, It’s a big moment that the officials missed that directly affected the result.
I thought we battled hard throughout the game and the second period was our best but we let them off by not capitalising on some great opportunities to score.
I think Hendo (Henderson) hit the post twice on top of his two goals and it is great to see him getting rewarded for the hard work he puts in every night.”
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