EPL: Play-off hopes fading for Hull Pirates as Sheffield Steeldogs are edged out twice

A 6-1 defeat at home to Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday together with an agonising 3-2 defeat at Telford Tigers 24 hours later was compounded by Manchester Phoenix’s unexpected 5-4 triumph at second-placed Milton Keynes Lightning.

It all meant that Hull fell further behind Phoenix in the standings, the gap between them and the team from across the Pennines in the eighth and final play-off spot has been extended to 12 points with 14 games remaining in the regular season schedule.

Despite having got their weekend off to a fine start with a 6-5 win over visitors’ Manchester, Sheffield Steeldogs couldn’t replicate that success in either of their subsequent games, losing out 4-3 in overtime at Swindon Wildcats before losing by the same scoreline on home ice against Milton Keynes Lightning on Sunday evening.

In Hull on Saturday, it was the hosts who went into the lead when Pasi Salonen pounced to find a way past Janis Auzins in the Phantoms goal.

But the visitors had gone in 2-1 ahead by the break through goals from Milan Baranyk and Craig Scott’s 19th-minute strike.

Former Steeldogs’ forward Edgars Bebris made it 3-1 at 26.31 and that is how it stayed until just under 10 minutes remained, with Will Weldon, Baranyk and Darius Pliskauskas added to the Phantoms’ tally.

After travelling to Telford, Hull again broke the deadlock when Pasi Salonen fired home at 15.29.

Jonathan Weaver, Joe Miller and Blahoslav Novak all scored without reply to enable the home team to take control and although they were given a scare at 48.34 when player-coach Dominic Osman beat Thomas Murdy with a wrist shot, that was as close as the visitors got.

Having faced 55 shots, Pirates’ goalie Martins Raitums deservedly picked up the visitor’s man of the match gong, with captain Warren Tait applauding his efforts afterwards.

“You can play with more confidence knowing that there is a guy behind you that can stop the puck,” said Tait.

“I don’t know how many times he came out of his net, poke checking guys and helping out the D. It builds guys’ confidence knowing that he is there and he is that solid.”

Sheffield Steeldogs had gone into their trip to Swindon in good spirits following their Roses win, but couldnt quite see off the Wildcats.

The hosts scored powerplay goals through Aaron Nell and Tomasz Malasinski to take a 2-0 lead before two goals within 52 seconds from Lee Haywood and Ashley Calvert saw Sheffield draw level before the halfway mark.

Liam Charnock’s strike at 32.07 then saw Greg Wood’s team go ahead for the first time, only for Swindon to level at 37.23 through Jonas Hoog.

There proved to be nothing between the two sides in the third, meaning overtime was required and it was Nell’s second of the night at 63.45 that decided the extra point.

Back on home ice the following night, the Steeldogs showed their fighting qualities to twice come from behind before finally losing out to second-placed Lightning.

Lubomir Korhon quickly cancelled out Jordan Cownie’s 18th-minute opener before, in the second period, former Hull Stingrays forward Bobby Chamberlain put Milton Keynes ahead once again.

It got worse for the home side when Frantisek Bakrlik made it 3-1 on the powerplay at 35.14, although they made it a one-goal game 49 seconds before the second period break through Andrew Hirst’s powerplay marker.

The home fans then sensed victory when Calvert’s second of the weekend levelled the game at 42.33, but the next goal was to prove the game-winner and it went the way of the visitors, with Lewis Hook being the right man in the right place at 45.31.

Steeldogs defenceman, Lewis Bell, back in action after a three-week injury lay-off, said it was a frustrating way to end the weekend.

“It’s disappointing, obviously, but that shows how far we have come as a team when we are disappointed to lose against a side of their quality,” said Bell.

“We feel frustrated, we feel we have given away goals and had one or two calls not go our way.

“We have had three big games this weekend and I am glad to be back and involved in these match ups.

“It’s been a tough weekend – I’m just getting some fitness back and found the Lightning game hard on the legs.”