Finally made it into work having had a late night coming home from Sheffield. I’m shattered but boy was it worth it. We never looked like we were at risk of losing this game. It was controlled from the first puck dropped. We were by far the better team over the two legs and completely deserve to be in the finals.
For me the most encouraging thing over the series was the general discipline we showed. We were in Sheffield’s faces but did not react and this really got under their skin. Last night we let them take all the penalties, bar a couple of ones we took in the 2nd and it paid off. Not so much because our PP is awesome (we all know it isn’t) but with Sheffield having to chase the game they were struggling with every minute that went past SH. Towards the end Sheffield had nothing to lose and through everything forward. We hit them on the break and sealed a convincing quarter finals win.
Smithy and Lyle for me were the best players out there last night. Lyle all series has been more than solid and is as good as any gaolie I’ve seen in this league of late. Since having a slow start to the season, Mark Smith is back at his very best. This guy is a working machine. If he ever gets turned over he’s skating back and winning the puck. He vision and speed is class and the one area where he has tended to struggle is his finishing has been very strong in recent weeks. Another two goals last night to add to his playoff tally. Great player and one I would love to see return.
The players’ reaction when we won was pleasing to see. As the guys walked back to the dressing room you could see how pumped they were that they’d qualified. I’m very pleased for Gerad and the lads.
Stepping back for a moment, Sheffield are a struggling organisation. Considering this was a playoff game and their last game of the season the crowd was tiny. There was no atmosphere at all apart from us Devils fans. A good chunk of the crowd were kids which makes you wonder what the profit margin would have been last night for a team paying very high rental costs. I’m not sure the Steelers will be able to sustain a competitive team playing out of the Sheffield Arena. I think the sooner the proposed YES project is up or a move to Ice Sheffield the better because despite disliking much of their organisation, I would not want to see a successful team like Sheffield fall under.
Back to us and 7 seasons of Elite League Ice Hockey with 7 seasons qualifying for the Playoffs Finals weekend. Buzzing! However, the horrible stat in the previous 6 six seasons is that we’ve never won it, despite coming agonisingly close. Maybe this year? Good luck lads!
For me the most encouraging thing over the series was the general discipline we showed. We were in Sheffield’s faces but did not react and this really got under their skin. Last night we let them take all the penalties, bar a couple of ones we took in the 2nd and it paid off. Not so much because our PP is awesome (we all know it isn’t) but with Sheffield having to chase the game they were struggling with every minute that went past SH. Towards the end Sheffield had nothing to lose and through everything forward. We hit them on the break and sealed a convincing quarter finals win.
Smithy and Lyle for me were the best players out there last night. Lyle all series has been more than solid and is as good as any gaolie I’ve seen in this league of late. Since having a slow start to the season, Mark Smith is back at his very best. This guy is a working machine. If he ever gets turned over he’s skating back and winning the puck. He vision and speed is class and the one area where he has tended to struggle is his finishing has been very strong in recent weeks. Another two goals last night to add to his playoff tally. Great player and one I would love to see return.
The players’ reaction when we won was pleasing to see. As the guys walked back to the dressing room you could see how pumped they were that they’d qualified. I’m very pleased for Gerad and the lads.
Stepping back for a moment, Sheffield are a struggling organisation. Considering this was a playoff game and their last game of the season the crowd was tiny. There was no atmosphere at all apart from us Devils fans. A good chunk of the crowd were kids which makes you wonder what the profit margin would have been last night for a team paying very high rental costs. I’m not sure the Steelers will be able to sustain a competitive team playing out of the Sheffield Arena. I think the sooner the proposed YES project is up or a move to Ice Sheffield the better because despite disliking much of their organisation, I would not want to see a successful team like Sheffield fall under.
Back to us and 7 seasons of Elite League Ice Hockey with 7 seasons qualifying for the Playoffs Finals weekend. Buzzing! However, the horrible stat in the previous 6 six seasons is that we’ve never won it, despite coming agonisingly close. Maybe this year? Good luck lads!
