GAME THREAD: Steelers v Storm: CUP Wed Oct 11th:

[mark]

Final Score 6:1 Steelers......

[smbmetal]

I predicted an easy 6-2 win, so wasn’t far off. Would have liked to see Laing get a few minutes.

A very good 3rd period saw us easily over the line. I found the first two periods very difficult to watch and we won’t beat teams like Belfast & Cardiff with a performance like that.

Manchester were poor and until playing us haven’t yet played a top 4 team, apart from Guildford who aren’t the same side as last year. They don’t even appear a physical team either.

You can only beat what’s in front of you, but my concerns still remain that we’re a 1 period team.

[kgw]

I predicted an easy 6-2 win, so wasn’t far off. Would have liked to see Laing get a few minutes.

A very good 3rd period saw us easily over the line. I found the first two periods very difficult to watch and we won’t beat teams like Belfast & Cardiff with a performance like that.

Manchester were poor and until playing us haven’t yet played a top 4 team, apart from Guildford who aren’t the same side as last year. They don’t even appear a physical team either.

You can only beat what’s in front of you, but my concerns still remain that we’re a 1 period team.

Belfast and Cardiff wouldn't sit back and defend for 60 minutes like Manchester did, so it would be a completely different game.

I think Steelers played the same throughout but just struggled to score early on. The possession in the first period seemed like it was about 90/10.

[smbmetal]

I predicted an easy 6-2 win, so wasn’t far off. Would have liked to see Laing get a few minutes.

A very good 3rd period saw us easily over the line. I found the first two periods very difficult to watch and we won’t beat teams like Belfast & Cardiff with a performance like that.

Manchester were poor and until playing us haven’t yet played a top 4 team, apart from Guildford who aren’t the same side as last year. They don’t even appear a physical team either.

You can only beat what’s in front of you, but my concerns still remain that we’re a 1 period team.

Belfast and Cardiff wouldn't sit back and defend for 60 minutes like Manchester did, so it would be a completely different game.

I think Steelers played the same throughout but just struggled to score early on. The possession in the first period seemed like it was about 90/10.

A quick question then……..would you say that was a good Steelers performance then in your opinion?

[Bryan]

The fact is we wore them down. I said at the end of the second storm we’re out on their feet and so it proved. Early on we seemed a bit one eyed. The passing was often poor and although we had a lot of shots on goal we never really created even half an opening. Nettie was good too. They were flattered by an opening 4min penalty which gave them an air of authority . We gave them their goal with poor defending.

[ginger]

Storm offered nothing really, but thought we played well all game. Finishing was not there in first 2 periods but was 1 way traffic. Once Dowd tied it there was only 1 winner.

Nicholls is so good off the puck. Always open for a 10ft pass to keep the puck moving, really like that line with Watling and Ciampini.

Thought Petgrave was very good again. Defensive play was superb, strips so many pucks quickly once they entered the zone. And he was making good decisions on when to pinch.

Puck movement in the offensive zone was great most of the night, but Manchester were so passive. Won't get that much time against Belfast etc but it's a good sign that the confidence and the line chemistry is starting to pick up.

[Bryan]

I agree with Ginger. Looking back through this thread I think people who say we were a 1 period team are not telling the whole story. The first two periods we were so dominant that they were exhausted by the third and the floodgates opened. Very much a 3 period team. Stats are all massively in our favour SoG 41 to 15 for example. The only downside was a poor faceoff record.. This leads to many lost attacks and must be remedied. It was better in most previous games.

[DimTim]

I too thought our face off stats were poor but looking at the game sheet we were a respectable 67%. Funny how you see things!

[Joesteeler]

I predicted an easy 6-2 win, so wasn’t far off. Would have liked to see Laing get a few minutes.

A very good 3rd period saw us easily over the line. I found the first two periods very difficult to watch and we won’t beat teams like Belfast & Cardiff with a performance like that.

Manchester were poor and until playing us haven’t yet played a top 4 team, apart from Guildford who aren’t the same side as last year. They don’t even appear a physical team either.

You can only beat what’s in front of you, but my concerns still remain that we’re a 1 period team.

Funny how people see things differently. I thought we dominated from minute 1 and were very good all night (I’d have used the word excellent had we actually taken our chances the 1st period).

It should have been 5 after the 1st, but poor finishing and a good performance by the Manchester netminder kept them in it

41 shots on goal and over 60% in the face off circle, signs of a dominant display.

I thought it was a good tactical move by Fox to put Tansey front of the goal for the Steelers PP’s in the 3rd. Great gritty play by Tansey to set up our goal on the 1st PP.

[Jayboy]

Some if you must have watched a different game to me, I had a great time, thought they did everything but score in that 1st period and Manchester were no where as near as bad as some of you make out.. They had several good scoring chances and took that first goal well, Greenfield pulled off some crucial saves in both the first and second periods.
No it wasn't particularly physical but Manchester will scalp a few teams this year you watch.. And I agree they were out on their feet by the 3rd period.. We played a smart game and finished them off when the time came right.. I am not saying Manchester are the new Belfast but they are clearly better than previous seasons..

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