Ice hockey latest: Steelers edged out in European clash

Ryan Finnerty’s team were left wondering what might have been after letting the lead slip twice before losing out in the lottery of penalty shots.

But the Elite League champions still secured a valuable point and must now pick themselves up in time for Saturday’s encounter with hosts Herning Blue Fox before taking on Hungary’s Dunaujvaros the following day.

Afterwards, Finnerty said he had mixed feelings about the outcome knowing how close his side had come to causing an upset in the opening match of the tournament.

“The shoot-out is a lottery and this time the numbers didn’t fall our way,” he said. “That is a big point though and one that keeps us in contention.

“I’m pleased and disappointed all at the same time. Pleased with the effort and performance against such a good, strong side, yet disappointed because we had chances to take all the points.”

After killing two Asiago powerplays it was the Steelers who took the lead when Steve Birnstill - recovered enough from illness to take his place in the line-up - picked up a rebound to fire into an empty net at 12.37.

They deservedly doubled their advantage when Tom Squires fired home at 25.23, but just under 10 minutes later the widely-fancied Italians were level through two goals in less than a minute from Sean Bentivoglio.

Colt King restored Steelers’ advantage at 38.55 and that was how it stayed until Bentivoglio sealed his hat-trick on the powerplay at 42.22.

With neither side able to find a winner, a goalless overtime period led to the shoot-out where Jeff Legue and Mike Ramsay’s misses were punished by goals from John Vigilante and that man Bentivoglio again.

Hull Stingrays’ player-coach Sylvain Cloutier hopes his team’s midweek road win at Cardiff Devils will act as a springboard for further success against the Elite League’s top clubs.

This weekend sees them travel to second-placed Nottingham Panthers on Saturday night before returning home to welcome Braehead Clan to Hull Arena 24 hours later.

“The Cardiff win has given us a lot of confidence,” said Cloutier, whose team lost 6-2 on their last visit to the National Ice Centre. “Nottingham are the highest-scoring team in the league so we are going to have to be strong defensively.