Sheffield Steelers coach Aaron Fox gives his verdict on Champions Hockey League clash against Zurich Lions

The Steelers saw their impressive three-game winning streak in Europe’s top club competition ended in dramatic style on Tuesday when they lost 2-1 after a shoot-out at Zurich Lions.

With 16 teams qualifying for the knockout stage, the result in Switzerland leaves the Steelers 11th in the standings ahead of next Wednesday’s closing game against Czechia’s Dynamo Pardubice at the Utilita Arena.

From head coach Fox, there was only praise for his players who he believed once again proved they belonged at this level.

“We played really good hockey,” said Fox. “We knew Zurich was going to be a tough test for us but again I loved our compete, I loved our battle.

“The players were ready from puck drop and I thought our second period was one of the best 20s we’ve played all year, we only gave up one shot in the second.

“The game could have gone either way, but you have to give credit to them, they are a very good hockey team in their barn but really thrilled for our guys, proud of our guys it was a courageous effort from our group tonight - we’ve shown we belong.”

As has been the story throughout their CHL schedule, the Steelers were again a good match for more-fancied opponents, although they had to come from behind after Zurich took advantage of a first period power play opportunity.

Colton Saucerman was sent to the box for hooking at 15.33 and, just over a minute later, Rudolfs Balcers’ shot from the right circle took a deflection off Dominic Cormier’s stick and over the right shoulder of Steelers’ netminder Matt Greenfield.

The Steelers enjoyed the better of the second period, Cole Shudra twice going close before they deservedly pulled level in the 33rd minute.

Mikko Juusola picked up the puck on the right edge of the Steelers zone and drove forward at pace, cutting inside and squaring off to Daniel Leavens, whose shot from an awkward angle in the left circle squirmed through the legs of Šimon Hrubec and over the line at 32.01.

Juusola then came within a couple of inches of putting the visitors ahead before the second intermission when his effort cannoned off the outside of Hrubec’s right-hand post.

If there was one bone to pick out of the Steelers’ performance, it was their inability to make any of their four power play opportunities count, three of them coming in the third period.

But it can’t take away from another impressive display, one they carried into overtime - where Brien Diffley came close to scoring the winner - ahead of the shoot-out.

Mitchell Balmas had them ahead after two rounds before Zurich gained the edge through successful efforts from Balcers and Juho Lammikko.

Leavens then held his nerve when he took the fifth shot for the Steelers but, after Balmas saw his sudden-death effort denied by Hrubec, that man Balcers stepped up again to deliver the winning blow for the hosts.

“We’ve got one game left,” added Fox. “We’ll see where things sit next week but we’d love to advance to the next round. We control our own destiny.”