Panthers await as Steelers see off Clan

Ryan Finnerty’s makeshift line-up - both Steven Goertzen and Shawn Limpright were absent - came from 2-0 down at the Motorpoint Arena to repeat the 4-2 triumph they enjoyed in last week’s first leg in Glasgow.

It took a while for the head coach’s line adjustments to settle before the home side ran out comfortable winners.

The Steelers fell behind to a seventh-minute strike by Jordan Krestanovich before Ash Goldie levelled the overall score with his 22nd-minute goal.

Captain Jonathan Phillips popped up to edge Steelers ahead again in the 32nd minute.

Third period goals from Lee Esders, Ashley Tait and Tylor Michel then sealed what turned out to be a comfortable aggregate win for the home side.

They will now face Nottingham Panthers in the final, with Corey Neilson’s going for a fourth straight Cup title.

“We showed some character tonight,” said Finnerty. “I think we also saw what a big part of our club Steven Goertzen and Shawn Limpright are. Without them this evening we had to move all three lines around. We moved Rod Sarich onto the Legue/Michel line and then Champagne onto the Ferguson/Phillips unit with young Lee Esders playing with Hewey and Ash

“I think that took time to settle, we didn’t play great in the first period but even 1-0 down I wasn’t too concerned. Yes, we all got a little nervous at 2-0 and we tightened up a bit for a few shifts afterwards. We settled down though and took the game to Braehead, we knew with the line up we had it wouldn’t be pretty goals but hard working, determination goals that would get us through.

“I think it’s the final that both we and the Panthers wanted.”

Hopes for the big prize, the regular season league title, are long gone as leaders Nottingham enjoy a 10-point advantage over third-placed Steelers, with only six games remaining.

But, with a Cup final to come and a chance of making the play-off final in Nottingham in early April, there is still plenty for Steelers’ players to play for.