Matsos unhappy with Steelers' commitment

Steelers went down 3-1 to their arch-rivals in the second leg of the Challenge Cup final on Wednesday night, losing the tie 7-3 on aggregate.

And Matsos, whose team remain second-from-bottom in the Elite League, was again critical of some of his charges for what he believed to be a lack of commitment on the ice.

"I hate to say it but we were out committed by the Panthers," said Matsos.

"That hurts to say it, but anyone here could see that as a team we were not as committed as they were."

Kevin Bergin and Bruce Richardson fired second-period goals to give Panthers the edge in the second leg before Doug Sheppard halved the deficit at 38.53.

Steelers outshot their hosts 15 to 9 in the third but could find no way through and, after Matsos pulled netminder Andre Verner, Cameron Mann rubbed salt into the visitors' wounds with an empty net strike seconds before the final hooter.

The result meant Panthers maintained their 100 per cent record over Steelers, winning all seven games between the two side this year.

Matsos is determined that the eighth meeting will bring an end to that unwelcome run.