Match Report | 21st April 2007 » Slough Jets 1-3 Sheffield Scimitars

Face Off: 6.30pm, Saturday 7th April 2007

Sheffield Scimitars make it to Coventry Finals weekend for the second year running in only their second year playing at EPL level, but ran it close by taking it to the last deciding game of the play-offs. An outstanding achievement along with their 2nd placing in the regular League season considering they played half the season with just three (out of 4) imports due to injury, though with Neil Abel, Coach of the Year - as voted by the IHJUK, in charge.

Saturday night in Slough was billed as one of the biggest games of the season as both teams needed to beat the other to make it to the Finals. Slough had beaten the Scimitars in Sheffield the previous week in OT so now it was imperative the Scimitars took two away points as there was not guaranteeing that Peterborough would do Sheffield any favours by beating Slough on the Sunday.

The game was opened by Zoran Kozig presenting a cheque to Danny McAleese, the injured Sheffield ice-hockey player, but once the puck was dropped the pleasantries were over in a fast-paced and physical game. The Scimitars dominated play in the first ten to fifteen minutes of the game, with Slough unable to get anything going. That all changed once Slough scored on the powerplay at 17.58 courtesy of Steve Moria.

The momentum changed in Slough's favour during the 0-0 second period, putting Sheffield very much on the defensive, with 16 shots on Raitanen to 8 on Skinns. There seemed little chance at this point that Sheffield could pull a win out of the game with Slough on the offensive.

The third began in similar fashion with Slough defending their one goal lead while keeping the offence going and with Sheffield unable to get any shots on goal during powerplays. That was until Ben Morgan unleashed a shot from the blue line, assisted Stewart, to score an even-handed goal at 50.46 to tie the game. With a lot of noisy support, the Scimitars found a new self-belief and took back possession of the game. Towe, (assisted Dowd and Butterworth) scored the game-winning goal on the powerplay at 53.46. The tempo increased with Sheffield defending the one-goal lead with everthing they had, especially when having to kill a Millie penalty at 57.08 but Towe found the empty net to clinch an incredible 3-1 win at 59.24. Pasi Raitanen was given a well-earned MOM for saving 42 out of 43 shots.

Scoring Details: Slough: Moria 1+0, Ciccarello & Kosic 0+1. MOM: Moria. Sheffield: Towe 2+0, Morgan 1+0, Dowd 0+2, Butterworth & Stewart 0+1 MOM: Raitanen.

Next Match Report: Sheffield Scimitars 5-2 Swindon Wildcats
21st April 2007
Previous Match Report: Sheffield Scimitars 2-3 Slough Jets
4th April 2007

More Match Reports

Announcements

Big boost for Scimitars as Martin Birch stays on

Great news for the 2008-9 season. Sheffield Scimitars's chairman and benefactor Martin Birch is to stay on, it was announced today. It means English Premier League ice hockey is secur...

EPL Playoff Weekend DVD's

Playoff Weekend DVD's in Production Ice Media Productions are currently putting together the Playoff Weekend DVD. The package is likely to be bigger than last year with the introduction of ...