GAME THREAD: Steelers v Panthers: CUP Semi-Final 2nd leg: Wed 25th Feb

[greeny]

Another piece of silverware not coming our way this season,,,,,,

[steeler pete]

A valiant effort but we gave ourselves a bit too much to do. I think Nottingham were glad to get to OT though.

I agree we need to use the 4th line a bit more.

[Brian]

Great effort. Cruel ending but we lost the extra time face off which was crucial and we hardly got a touch of the puck before they scored.
Can't see Notts getting past Belfast if final is in Belfast.

[bladerunner]

A disappointing end to what was an excellent game to watch. I think if the team could play this way to the end of the season I would be happy, even if no silverware was forthcoming. The whole team look like they really wanted to win, something I feel has been lacking in the big games this year.
It will be interesting to see if they can find the same commitment against Belfast over the next few games.
Special mention to Greener and Dowd they always seem to step up to the plate and was nice to see Diffley back on the ice.
A great game and fantastic effort.... Keep it up

[paul johnston]

A fantastic game, the effort from the three lines was fantastic.
A game of ifs and buts.
If Jasper could hit the target on one of his 3-4 great chances. If Tait also with his great build up play could bury the puck. If only the Notts d man hadnt cleared the puck from near the goal line when it got past Carr.
It's hard to know whether was the mental or physical fatigue or both of getting us to parity with the fourth goal scored but we just went a bit flat and scrappy for that last 10. Would have helped if used the fourth line for at least a few shifts throughout the game especially as they have done a good job recently.
I read last night on X that Balmas had a mare in the faceoff dot in regulation so to start ot with him taking the faceoff was a poor decision.

It was a fantastic game and effort from the guys. I thought it was realistically our last slim chance of silverware this year.

I dont know why we dont play consistently like that because we would be hard to beat if so.

[MLL79]

Can only echo what everyone else has said, great effort and so close. I was likewise scratching my head as to why no fourth line. Particularly early on in third period to give Nott a different problem to tackle. I thought Nott only then played “the shutdown game” in the third, which I think we all expected them to do for the whole game. I was (pleasantly) surprised to see them run and gun for as long as they did, which made for a great game for us all.

Some real stand out highlight moments to remember tho that we can all take away, the Juusola steal and breakaway, Dowd second goal, THAT Greenfield double stop.

[mark]

As Fox stated last night, over 5 periods we were the better team, but at this level you cannot give anyone in the top four a three goal start and expect to win. I prefer to take the positives from a game and for me it's that if we can continue to play at that level we can do some serious damage to the Giants' title hopes and for ourselves we need to switch into playoff hockey mode. Every game needs to be played with the intensity we showed last night, it's clear that the ability is there to do it.

[smbmetal]

A disappointing end to what was an excellent game to watch. I think if the team could play this way to the end of the season I would be happy, even if no silverware was forthcoming. The whole team look like they really wanted to win, something I feel has been lacking in the big games this year.
It will be interesting to see if they can find the same commitment against Belfast over the next few games.
Special mention to Greener and Dowd they always seem to step up to the plate and was nice to see Diffley back on the ice.
A great game and fantastic effort.... Keep it up

I completely agree.

I'm pretty sure if we played like this the majority of the time, I certainly wouldn't have many complaints.

Unfortunately these games are one off's under Fox and are very much NOT the norm which for me, is very frustrating.

Thought we deserved to get through, but the damage was done in the first leg I'm afraid.

[lovedenisvial]

Thought we played really well over 5 periods! shame the first in Nottingham did all the damage but we can't grumble at the attitude and commitment we showed in the second leg, Pants were so fortunate to be still in it going into OT.
Not playing our 4th line worries me thou! with another big game in Belfast tonight! I don't think we will have the legs to compete over 60 minutes.
Its clearly now Belfast again for the league and probably the cup too!

[Doom]

The 4th line all played last night for the Dogs.....could that have been part of Fox's thinking?

I'm guessing at least two of them will travel to Belfast, so Wednesday, Thursday and Friday would be a lot of hockey. On Wednesday he probably had them sat on the bench just in case.

For the record the Dogs won the 1st leg of the cup final 3 - 1 in Leeds.

Regards

Doom