Weekend Preview - Devils V's Steelers

28th Nov 2012 | Posted by Simon Rafferty

This weekend see the Devils take on the Sheffield Steelers home and away first off away on  Saturday in Sheffield in a league game and then at home on Sunday in what can only be called a “dead rubber” challenge cup game as the Devils cannot qualify and the Steelers are already through. This will be the fifth ( and sixth) times the two teams have met with the score line currently standing at  2 games apiece.

We looked at the Steelers roster and suggested that Orange was a pretty stupid color for a Jersey a lot earlier in the season here http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/news/opening-weekend-devils-vs-steelers/

Since then they have gone on to add NHL lockout player Tom Sestito, but don’t worry the Sheffield Star said he was rubbish, and Ex Devils Target forward Simon Ferguson who might be in for this weekend’s games.  Ferguson has played  335 American Hockey League games and will arrive in Sheffield once his working visa has been approved.

Ryan Finnerty confirmed the Ferguson signing saying "We have only been carrying 10 imports this season and have always had the option to bring an 11th in. Also with the NHL situation we didn't want to get caught should the NHL return to work and Tom Sestito leave us. We would then have been chasing a new player to replace him and have competition for signings from every team in Europe.”

"Simon Ferguson is the perfect signing for us. He is hungry to come into a situation and play out the year. He is a hardworking, hardnosed player who will bring a great work ethic and style of play to our team. I see him in the mould of a Tylor Michel. He is another that will intensity and energy to the side"

"He will add offence but more importantly add to what we already have here as another very good, very solid hockey player. He is a perfect fit and has a great hockey resume with much top quality experience. I can't wait to have him available and to work with him.”

Last weekend saw the Steelers rampage around Scotland on a two day road trip, first up taking on the Clan on Saturday where they  chalked up their fourth straight league win. 

The Steelers made their intentions very clear as they opened the scoring as Tom Sestito slotted home at 7.16. They doubled their lead with a strike from Shawn Limpright at 10.04.  Then Rod Sarich was on hand to tip in at 17.46 to give them a 3-0 first period lead.

The Clan pulled one back early in the second period as Jade Galbraith fired home a power play goal with 32 seconds on the clock. The Steelers regained their three goal lead as Sestito got his second of the game at 27.43 and then with 61 seconds remaining in the second session Colin Shields made it 5-1.

The third period went the same way as the other two with the hosts having more shots on goal but fewer goals. Steelers Jeff Legue added another at 45.19 and the home side got their second of the night from NHL lockout player Drew Miller at 51.55. However, it was Steelers lockout star Tom Sestito who had the final say as he completed his hat trick at 53.03.

Despite being outshot by the Clan the Steelers were more clinical in front of goal. Recently slagged off  in the Sheffield Star Tom Sestito was their “star man” with a hat trick on the night.

Braehead Clan 2 – 7  Sheffield Steelers

Sunday saw the Steelers now move to within one point of leaders Belfast in the league.  A good opening session for the Capitals saw them hold the Steelers at bay while at the other end they scored the only goal, courtesy of  Martin Cingel at 12.08 on a 4 on 4 play.

The second period saw Steelers pull level at 25.03 when Jeff Legue fired home bur Capitals were soon back in front when Michal Dobron beat John De Caro with a shot at 29.08 on the power play.

That’s the way the score stayed with Capitals seemingly heading for victory until an incident involving Hay and Steelers Danny Meyers saw the Capitals man thrown out by referee Tom Darnell and Myers led from the ice in some discomfort.

Steelers took advantage of the five minute power play to turn the game their way, with Shawn Limpright firstly leveling at 48.55 and then Steven Goertzen scoring what proved to be the game winner at 50.33.

Although Capitals did pull goaltender Tomas Hiadlovsky with just over a minute to go they could not force the game into overtime and it was the visitors who had found a way to win in the end.

Edinburgh Capitals 2 - 3 Sheffield Steelers

Speaking after the weekend’s games Ryan Finnerty had this to say

“I won’t lie - there have been sometimes I have scratched my head with them. But on Sunday (3-2 win at Edinburgh) I saw them become what I think of as a Steelers team"

“With things not going to plan and 2-1 down a lot of teams would fall apart and start bitching on the bench. This team did just what the Steelers teams did when I first joined the club. "

“We stuck together, we played hard for each other and found a way to win. Some might think a 3-2 road win in Murrayfield is a result you may not look back on and say: “This is when things turned a corner” but I have a feeling it might”

He went on to add “Call it team gelling, call it male bonding; call it what you like, we needed it. We went to Scotland to collect four points, as I sat on the bus coming back I had those points and I’m still happy about that."

Looking quickly at the Steelers stats the ones to watch are Jeff Legue on 29 points, Colin Shields on 28 points, Ashley Tait on 25 points Shawn Limpright & Tylor Michel both on 24 points and Steven Goertzen on  20 points, I will exclude Tom Sestio from this list as the Star said he was rubbish. The ones to watch against us based on games to date are a little different with  Jonathan Phillips having scored twice this season  and Drew Fata also on 2 goals on the Devils to date.

In nets Steelers have John "Some of the goals we let in last year stunned me" DeCaro who no matter how much we mock him still seems to stop the puck 90% of the time with a goals against average of 2.5

The Steelers look to have two players out at the weekend with Defenseman Danny Meyers and forward Tylor Michel both doubtful to play.

Steelers coach Ryan Finnerty had this to say -
“We have injuries to Danny Meyers and Tylor Michel. But we hope to have Simon Ferguson in for the Cardiff home game on Saturday. A new player always gives you a boost. Ferguson is coming into a very good team that likes it self at the moment. The coach likes it as well”

The Devils on the other hand could well be a full Strength ? Which I’m a little surprised to be saying with only Barri Mackenzie still being in any question for the weekend. In addition to not having anyone banned the Devils also see the welcome return of Defenseman Mark Richardson.

We will be running the “ridiculously childish and disgustingly biased” Match Night Live service for these games, expect name calling suggestions of Dummy spiting and collusion between the Steelers and the league and one eyed bias in epic proportions, at the usual location of http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/mnl if you'd like to help out by texting updates (we’d be happy to hear from you) or chip in with some comments on the night please contact us at matchnightlive@gmail.com.

For details of upcoming away travel with Red Army Travel and you can get all the information here http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6639