Sheffield Steelers to face familiar foes Nottingham Panthers

WONDER GOAL: John Armstrong strikes the puck past Guildford's Brian Stewart on Saturday, completing a brilliant solo effort that started from behind his own goal. Picture: Dean Woolley.WONDER GOAL: John Armstrong strikes the puck past Guildford's Brian Stewart on Saturday, completing a brilliant solo effort that started from behind his own goal. Picture: Dean Woolley.
WONDER GOAL: John Armstrong strikes the puck past Guildford's Brian Stewart on Saturday, completing a brilliant solo effort that started from behind his own goal. Picture: Dean Woolley.
SHEFFIELD STEELERS ensured their season would last for a further week by reaching the Elite League play-off semi-finals '“ but their path to the National Ice Centre proved anything but simple.

A 9-7 margin of victory over the course of two legs may seem relatively comfortable for Paul Thompson’s team, but Guildford Flames made life extremely difficult over two nights for the five-time polay-off champions.

Thompson anticipated a tough weekend against Paul Dixon’s players and that is exactly what he got, the Surrey-based club proving particularly obstructive on Saturday night before a moment of magic from John Armstrong eventually got the hosts ahead in the tie.

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The Steelers went on to win the home leg 5-2 overall, giving themselves a healthy advantage ahead of the return leg 24 hours later.

And, with 19 minutes remaining in Guildford, the Steelers were seemingly home and dry with an aggregate lead of 9-4, thanks to goals from Armstrong, Mark Matheson, Colton Fretter and Eric Neiley.

But Guildford came out fighting in the final period, reducing the deficit to 9-6 within three minutes.

The Steelers held firm, however, despite being outshot 43-27 overall and although a 60th-minute strike from the Flames’ Ben Davies put his side ahead 5-4 on the night, it proved no more than a consolation for a team who have impresssed so much in their first-ever season in the EIHL.

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After celebrating a hard-fought win, defending play-off champions the Steelers then had to wait a few minutes before finding out that they would meet arch-rivals Notingham Panthers in the second semi-final at the National Ice Centre.

Sheffield Steelers' David Phillips tussles with a Guildford opponent in Saturday's 5-2 win. Picture: Dean Woolley.Sheffield Steelers' David Phillips tussles with a Guildford opponent in Saturday's 5-2 win. Picture: Dean Woolley.
Sheffield Steelers' David Phillips tussles with a Guildford opponent in Saturday's 5-2 win. Picture: Dean Woolley.

The first semi-final will be between regular season league title winners Cardiff Devils and Fife Flyers, who overturned a three-goal deficit from their first leg against Manchester Storm to book a trip to the NIC with an overtime winner on the road.

The Devils returned home from their Friday night trip to Coventry Blaze with a convincing 4-2 victory, but were given an almighty scare 48 hours later when Danny Stewart’s team raced into a 3-1 lead by the end of the second period.

But the Devils powered back with goals from Josh Batch, matt Pope and Justin Faryna to book their place in Nottingham.

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The Panthers continued their bid to send long-serving head coach Corey Neilson out on a high by making the last four in dramatic style.

Sheffield Steelers' David Phillips tussles with a Guildford opponent in Saturday's 5-2 win. Picture: Dean Woolley.Sheffield Steelers' David Phillips tussles with a Guildford opponent in Saturday's 5-2 win. Picture: Dean Woolley.
Sheffield Steelers' David Phillips tussles with a Guildford opponent in Saturday's 5-2 win. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Having lost the first leg against Belfast Giants 4-3 on Friday, the Panthers needed an overtime winner from Dan Spang to book an eagerly-anticipated last four clash with the Steelers.

RESULTS: Cardiff Devils 4 Coventry Blaze 3 (Devils won 8-5 on aggregate); Guildford Flames 5 Sheffield Steelers 4 (Steelers won 9-7 on agg); Manchester Storm 1 Fife Flyers 5 (Flyers win in OT and 6-5 on agg); Nottingham Panthers 5 Belfast Giants 3 (Panthers win in OT and 8-7 on agg).

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