The Flyers travelled to Sheffield  having played out a close game against the Steelers a fortnight ago and were looking to snap their long winless run. The visitors included debutant Simon Despres in their line up after the blueliner arrived only a few hours ahead of boarding the bus for the trip. The Flyers were without Justin Ducharme, Jonas Emmerdahl and Mason Alderson but added Joe Lynch. The Steelers were at full strength with Eamon McAdam getting the start in nets.

The Flyers had the first chance in the 2^nd minute as Keaton Jameson tested McAdam from close in and then the Steelers went the other way and Shane Owen had to be alert to dive from his net and poke the puck away from Robert Dowd on the breakaway as the Steelers captain played the puck too far in front of him. Garet Hunt put a shot on the Steelers net in the 5^th minute that McAdam blockered away. The Steelers first shot on net came with over 6 minutes played and Owen followed that up in quick succession as he turned another shot away and gloved a shot from Ryan Tait to get a whistle. The Flyers keeper was out at the top of his crease to cut down the angle on a Mitchell Balmas shot from the right wing in the 9^th minute. A minute later and the visitors had a great chance as Josh Winquist was all alone on front of McAdam and he tried to take the puck around the netminder who was able to poke the puck away to safety. Owen went post to post in the 12^th minute to prevent Dominic Cormier getting the opener on the wraparound. In the 15^th minute Giordano Finoro went short side and his rising shot hit McAdam’s helmet on the way to safety and the Steelers keeper was up to the task again a minute later when he blockered away a Jameson shot. The Steelers went on the first powerplay of the game with under two minutes of the period remaining when Hunt was called for a hook as he challenged Robert Dowd. The Steelers controlled the puck in the Flyers zone without looking overly dangerous but at 19:36 they opened the scoring when a shot by Dowd struck the shinpad of Stephen Harper who was looking in the opposite direction and the puck bounced beyond Owen.

Into the second period and 30 seconds in Harper came in late at the back door but he missed the net with his shot. Winquist made a great diving shot block in the 22^nd minute as the Steelers started to dominate puck possession in the Fife zone. Ryan Nicholson tried a shot from the blueline that McAdam went to glove but missed and once again the puck caught his helmet and bounced to safety. The Flyers got back on level terms at 24:41 with a great team goal as Winquist and Finoro combined to set up a chance in the slot for Johan Porsberger who buried the puck bar down on McAdam. The Steelers were quick to hit back and at 26:12 Dowd gathered the puck behind the Flyers net and his reverse pass back out front was swept home by Sam Tremblay from the slot. Moments later the Steelers goal judge thought the home side had extended their lead as Mitchell Heard pulled a few moves to go in alone on Owen who stoned him as the red light prematurely was lit. In the 28^th minute Ian Scheid had space in the high slot but his shot was swallowed by McAdam. Despres tested McAdam with a shot from distance in the 33^rd minute and soon after a scrum broke out in front of the Sheffield net with Dowd and Finoro assessed offsetting roughing minors. The Flyers went on their first powerplay in the 35^th minute as Harper tripped Vlastimil Dostalk as he attempted to carry the puck from the Flyers zone. The Flyers controlled the puck from the face off and a Winquist shot was fought off by McAdam with Hunt screening and Hunt also was denied as the Steelers completed the kill. Another scrum in front of McAdam in the 38th minute saw Finoro and Jasper tangle with both getting two minute roughing minors and Finoro being tagged with an extra unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to put the Steelers back on the powerplay. The Flyers kept the Steelers to the outside but were a further man down with just 12 seconds remaining in the period when Nicholson was binned for a trip. The 5 on 3 carried forward to the final period.

The Flyers killed the two man Steelers advantage and then returned to full strength without the Steelers getting a shot on goal. Dowd was denied by Owen in the 46^th minute who made a blocker save and moments later the Steelers were back on the man advantage as Despres was given the gate for a high stick. The Flyers penalty kill was solid once again with Owen only having to deal with a couple of shots from the periphery before they returned to full strength. In the 50^th minute Porsberger burst down the right wing but his shot was blockered clear by McAdam. Shortly after Cormier showed great patience to create himself some space but Owen was out aggressively above his paint once again to shut him down. Finoro drove the Steelers net in the 51^st minute and McAdam came up with a save with Porsberger just unable to get to the loose puck before the Sheffield netminder was able to cover up. A turnover by the Flyers in the neutral zone in the 53^rd minute saw Cormier dart into the visitors zone but Owen was square to his shot. The Steelers almost killed the contest in the 55^th minute as a Balmas shot caught the junction of post and bar before the puck bounced down and was scrambled clear. With 90 seconds to play the Flyers called a timeout and pulled Owen for the extra skater. The visitors controlled the puck from numerous face offs although Tait missed a shot at the empty net but the Flyers just could get the opening they were looking for as time ran out.

Pic Credits – Sheffield Steelers

Fife Flyers are next at home on  Sunday 16th November when they entertain the Cardiff Devils – tickets can be bought online here:  Tickets – Fife Flyers or look out on social media channels for box office opening times.