Sheffield Steelers came down from two goals before taking an overtime winner to leave Guildford with a 4-3 victory on the Flames.
The opening goal of the game went the way of the flames. Charlie Curti’s Scot from the point was deflected for the former Flames goalkeeper Eamon Mcadam by Jake Coughler to open the score with just under 13 minutes.
“The team did a great job by giving me easy saves, especially early,” said Flames goalkeeper Justin Fazio. “We played a really good, team defense match tonight and it was a great effort from everyone I thought.”
A bad giveaway in the end of the Flames set up the stalkers to level – Ryan Tait gratefully took the Puck and set up Mikko Juusola for the equal goal 49 seconds in the period.
“It was a long travel day for us and maybe some legs were a bit heavy, so you expect a bit of a slow start on a heavy ice rink, but I had a few rescues that the boys got going,” said McAdam, back to his former team. “I thought from the end of that first period that we took over the kind of.”
After they started very well, the Flames were under pressure from the stalkers that grew in the game. A post denied Jack Jacome to give the flames the lead before the period was off.
Two goals in ten seconds then put the flames two forward. Cole skated Ully in 2-on-1 to beat Mcadam with a neat wrist shot, and from the next draw, Jack Jacome Josh Waller stored for a one-timer to bring the score at 26:17.
An excellent solo target by Dominic Cormier brought the stalkers back in, and cut from the wing and over the fold to finish Fazio at 27:03. Sam Tremblay then finished a loose puck two minutes later to bind the game. Jacome hit a pole when the flames threatened to go back, but the second ended with the teams all square.
“When Cormier took that Puck to the net, he sent a message,” said McAdam. “It was a difficult game to go so fast, and such a dedication really started the boys. It really fueled us.”
“Sheffield is a good team and will always push,” said Fazio of the comeback of the Steelers. “We did well to sharpen it after they became level again and fought hard by the rest of the game.”
In period three, both sides were tightened and made sure that neither would be caught on the hurry. In the final phase, the Steelers thanks to McAdam for a series of excellent rescues, while in one way or another he stopped the flames to grab a late winner.
In the extension, the NetMinding Clinic continued on both ends when Fazio joined the game of game -saving stops. Travis Brown also made a handful of exceptional blocks to keep the stalkers out. Eventually it was Jordon Southorn who won the Steelers the extra point with a shot under the arm of Fazio to seal the victory.
Fazio concluded: “I wish I could have saved that at the end. The boys fought hard and blocked shots in front of me, I wanted to win that victory for them.”
Mcadam meanwhile enjoyed the victory against his former team. “It was strange to come back here,” he laughed. “Even just walking into the building and entering the other side, it is a strange experience. But it was great to come out with the two points and enjoy it.”
Photo: John Uwins
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