Sheffield Steelers 4-1 Manchester Phoenix

Phoenix missing Bruce Mulherin.

2642 saw Sheffield Steelers come within 65 seconds of posting their third sucessive shutout at home. As it was Carl Graham fired into the gaping net after a scramble in front of the Sheffield net which had clearly come adrift by the time the puck entered it. This was no more than the visitors deserved, but the plaudits went to Brad Cruickshank who posted his first hat-trick in a Steelers' shirt to secure the points. Twice Cruickshank was on hand to pot the rebound at Stephen Murphy's right post in a whirlwind opening period. Joey Talbot deflected Jeff Legue's right wing shot home at the start of the final session before Cruickshank blasted home in glorious style from the right wing.

Phoenix took the game to Sheffield from the off and spent most of the opening two minutes forcing Steelers to defend, but the home side went ahead following their opening shot on goal. Randy Dagenais' effort rebound to Doug Sheppard close-in who found Cruickshank at the far post for a simple opener (1:47). Sheffield had the better chances for the next few minutes without threatening to score. But the big save came at the other end when Luke Fulghum popped up on the far post only for Lehman to get across and keep the shot out. Ryan Finnerty might have done better when well-placed but his backhanded shot was gloved. But soon Cruickshank had forced the puck home following Scott Basiuk's booming shot (11:28).

Talbot forced a good save two minutes later before Lehman blanked Lucas Burnett with Cruickshank sitting a tripping minor. Back at full strength, Talbot was again working Murphy whilst Rob Dowd whistled a shot over the bar from 10 feet.

A goalless middle session followed, but not for want of trying as both sides took a rash of penalties. Burnett's crisp left wing shot was sticked aside by Lehman, then Sarich misjudged a puck and Kyle Bruce got away behind him. His pass found Brett Clouthier at the far post but again Lehman got there to blank the former Steeler. Finnerty was sitting an interference penalty when the game restarted and on the powerplay Lehman was caught out of position. A cross-ice pass to Nathan Ward on the right was returned inside but both Josh Garbutt and Burnett had shots blocked from close-in as the home defence covered for their keeper.

Murphy padded aside two big shots from Sarich whilst Fulghum tested Lehman while Dowd sat a tripping penalty. Phoneix made better use of their next powerplay with Fulghum, Bruce and Alex Dunn all denied by Lehman. With the seconds ticking away Legue found Ashley Tait on the doorstep but Murphy shut the door. Back at full strength he produced a top drawer glove save from Cruickshank's right wing shot.

With Garbutt sitting a slashing penalty, Finnerty charged up the left and the rebound from his shot fell nicely for Jonathan Phillips, but he fired over from close-in with Murphy on the deck. A rash of penalties saw Sheffield close the period 4 on 3 yet Lehman was turning aside Fulghum's shot. That man advantage paid off at the start of the third period when Talbot tipped home Legue's right wing shot (40:29). Kenton Smith's 4 minute penalty for high sticks might have opened the flood gates but Hand and Bruce kept Lehman busy before Sarich took a hooking penalty. With the sides 4 on 4 Phillips charged down Dunn's shot and raced to the other end, finding Hewitt at the left post but Murphy shut the door. Gradually Sheffield were wearing out their visitors. A fourth might have arrived when Legue found Talbot on the doorstep but the defence whipped the puck to safety. However Sheppard's pass inside to Cruickshank was rifled past Murphy (52:07) to kill the game.

All credit to Phoenix for not giving up. Bruce forced a fine pad save and with less than 4 minutes remaining David Beauregard finally forced a save with the home defence clearing the ensuing scramble for the rebound. Two minutes later another scramble left Lehman on the floor and Graham netted high into the net from 12 feet.