Sheffield Steelers 2-3 Basingstoke Bison

Sheffield's 1000th game was witnessed by a host of players from their inaugural season, but only 2395 spectators. Bison deservedly skated off with the points as they out-worked the home side and then shut-up shop.

Kevin Bergin lifted the puck home at the left post (6:56) and Brad Cruickshank fired a bullet first time from the left after Greg Owen's quick break down the right (16:40), both arriving on the powerplay.

Sheffield replied with a powerplay goal of their own when Brett Clouthier netted from close-in (30:15), but Sheffield-trained youngster Greg Wood bagged the game winner soon afterwards (32:31) and despite Rod Sarich wrapping the puck home at Curtis Cruickshank's right post as the second period ended (39:59), Bison held out.

Sheffield started slowly and with Bergin penalised for slashing, only Regan Darby could force a save. When Jason Hewitt took a hooking penalty, the visitors took full advantage. Blair Manning was blanked from low on the left. But 50 seconds later Cruickshank's cross-ice pass was swept home by the unmarked Bergin.

Doug Sheppard should have doubled the lead 80 seconds later when bursting through alone, but Lehman made the stop. Shaun Sutter's left wing shot was gloved and Lehman found himself making a point-blank save from Owen at the other end.

Mark Desantis took a tripping penalty stopping Dan Tessier getting his shot away. Cruickshank made big saves from Sutter and Scott Ricci, Tessier putting a rebound wide, but Lehman had to make another stop when Sheppard intercepted on his own blue line and sped away.

Lehman made another stop from Eric Braff's left wing shot and when Shane johnson took a high sticks penalty, Bison added their second powerplay goal from 3 attempts. Owen got away and Cruickshank met his cross-ice pass with a sweetly timed rocket of a shot.

Sheffield had a narrow escape 2 minutes later with Lehman grounded after stopping Desantis' shot, but the puck was scrambled to safety.

The home side raised their game in the second, with Cruickshank twice blanking Sarich. Sheppard was denied on the doorstep and Tessier broke away, with Cruickshank making a sprawling stop from Sutter.

Clouthier span and shot and Hewitt also worked the goalie, but Greg Chambers and Sheppard kept Lehman on his toes at the other end.

With Boniface indicating a delayed penalty against Richard Hargreaves, Lehman was withdrawn for the extra skater. However as the goalie approached the bench the puck passed near him and he played it with his stick, to earn himself an ineligible player penalty.

Duncan Dalmao's left wing shot was gloved then Owen was assessed an interference penalty, Sheffield had 32 seconds of 4-on-3 to get back in the game. Only Sarich forced a save, but with the sides back to 5-on-4, Tessier picked out Clouthier at the near post and he forced the puck home.

A couple of minutes later the game was stopped to fix a piece of plexi that had popped out. Bison made the most of the short delay and soon after the restart Wood buried a rebound from the right wing.

Desantis' slashing penalty brought saves from Sarich, Ian Manzano and Johnson, the last arriving with Crucikshank on the floor and the puck heading for the top of the net, but somehow Cruickshank got a glove up to deflect the puck over the bar.

Sheffield's frustrations spilled over with Clouthier taking a boarding penalty. Manning's left wing shot was gloved and from the face-off, Maltby broke up the left, forcing a save from Cruickshank and then colliding with the keeper when the goalie attempted to block his progress around the net. Cruickshank recovered and Lehman did well to deny Owen twice at his right post. From the face-off Desantis forced a routine save.

With the period drawing to a close Tessier burst up the ice but shot wide. However Sarich collected the rebound behind the Bison goal and squeezed the puck inside the post just before the buzzer.

Sheffield piled on the pressure throughout the final period, but too often they were restricted to shots from distance or the shot went wide. Johnson and Maltby forced good saves, but the best chance came halfway through. Tessier's initial shot was blocked by his own player Phil Hill just in front of the goal, but Hill recovered and Cruickshank made a huge save to thwart the young Welshman.

Still Sheffield kept pressing but the shots were from distance or wide on the boards. Chambers had the best chance at the other end, Lehman making a point-blank save at his right post.

With just under 2 minutes remaining Cruickshank blanked Tessier's left wing shot and despite Sheffield lifting Lehman inside the final minute, Cruickshank didn't have another save to make as his colleagues blocked and harried as if their lives depended on it.