Sheffield Steelers 3-2 Nottingham Panthers after overtime

Mike Rees missing for Nottingham

4687 saw Panthers storm to a well-deserved 2-0 lead at the first interval thanks to Danny Meyers' right wing blast into the near top corner (7:19) and Sean McAslan's close-range shot squeezing past Jody Lehman (11:13). But Shawn Maltby gave a captain's performance with a hat-trick to give Steelers their first win in 7 games. With Matt Myers sitting an interference penalty, Shane Johnson picked him out low on the far side and he netted high over the prostrate keeper (31:44), then a speculative shot from the left boards squeezed under Rastislav Rovnianek's glove and inched over the line (48:02).

A poor pass from behind the Sheffield net by Panthers' forwards released Maltby behind the defence and he made no mistake (64:25) for a dramatic win.

An indisciplined opening period by the visitors handed Sheffield powerplays a-plenty. Too many men on the ice 36 seconds in should have been a golden start, but only Ian Manzano could force a save as Corey Neilson and Matus Petricko tested Lehman at the other end.

While Paul Moran was sitting an interference penalty, Shaun Sutter was apparently felled twice by a high stick and the second time Myers was assesssed 4 minutes, giving Sheffield 94 seconds of 5-on-3 followed by the balance 5-on-4. Sutter departed for attention to a facial cut.

Rovnianek gloved a Dan Tessier right wing bullet and the same player was foiled from low on the same wing, but otherwise Panthers killed the penalty without troubling their goalie further.

7 seconds after returning to full strength, Meyers burst up the right and the puck screamed over Lehman's shoulder and Panthers rejoiced.

Jason Hewitt's tripping penalty brought lots of pressure but only one save from Neilson with Sheffield scrambling the loose puck clear. Phil Hill's delay of game penalty gave Panthers 35 seconds of 5-on-3 and Sheffield were thankful to hear the ref's whistle in the scramble for the rebound from Jan Krajicek's booming shot.

Myers fed the puck across the front of the goal but nobody could reach it. Then the same player tried a wrap-around with Lehman stranded at his right post. But the goal arrived 2 seconds after Hill returned. A neat passing move was finished from 6 feet by McAslan.

Hewitt and Ryan Shmyr clashed soon afterwards and, with the sides skating 4-on-4, Tessier again made Rovnianek work. But it was Nottingham threatening to score when Simoes low on the left saw his shot padded aside, but collected the rebound and skated across the back of the net, only for Mark Thomas to intercept the pass to McAslan with the goal unguarded.

Another too many men penalty again saw Rovnianek make a single stop, from Tessier.

Early in the middle session Tessier's shot was padded to Johnson but the defence blocked the follow-up shot. Regan Darby, now playing as a forward, drove the Panthers goal to no avail.

But Panthers found the net when Clarke's shot was stabbed home on the doorstep, only for the ref to rule the forward was in the crease.

Hewitt was back in the box (roughing) and Stevens was twice blanked at Lehman's left post. McAslan's shot fell invitingly for Shmyr but Lehman reacted quickly to freeze the puck.

Back at even strength, Petricko and GB youngster Ferrara both forced saves, before Sutter burst through and Tessier picked up the dropped pass to force a fine save.

Sheffield's powerplay again appeared to be struggling on Myers' penalty, before Maltby fired high into the net.

Back came Panthers with Lehman producing an amazing double-stop. Shmyr's big shot from the right was padded to Petricko who shot high, but somehow Lehman blanked the effort depsite being prone on the ice.

Clouthier's cross-checking penalty saw Lehman again padding aside blue line shots and his defence scrambling the puck to safety.

The home side came out flying at the start of the third. With Krajicek sitting a high sticks penalty, Rovnianek was kept busy by Sarich and Ricci blasting in from the blue line, but Panthers survived. With the sides back at even strength neither side could carve out a clear opportunity. Maltby fired in from the left boards and the keeper covered the puck with his glove, only to see it slither out and inch over the goal line! Hockey can be very cruel on goalies.

Clouthier and Phillips forced saves, then Tessier got away but Rovnianek turned the shot aside and instead it was Lehman blanking McAslan. McAslan's over-eagerness to regain possession saw him assessed an interference penalty and Sarich was again forcing saves with his booming shot.

McAslan returned but Panthers were still struggling to recover from a Manzano shot from the right.

Six minutes left and back came Panthers and from a right wing face-off, Shymr's shot was almost finished by Myer but the puck was scrambled clear. Simoes was blanked from the left wing. 30 seconds later Steelers were again scrambling the puck clear following a booming Shmyr shot.

Three minutes left and Darby's shot from distance was turned aside by Rovnianek pushing up, but the goalie's pass found Hewitt on the right boards who hit a crisp first-timer only to see the goalie recover to save.

Just 11 seconds left and Tessier skipped through, but the puck was whisked off his stick. Clouthier and Sutter raced for the puck, Clouthier got there first but put his shot wide.

Into overtime and Lehman was saving right wing shots from Joe Carderelli and McAslan . Sutter and Tessier couldn't find a way past Panthers goalie. Back to the other end and Lehman turned aside Krajicek's shot.

Two minutes left and Shmyr's shooting again caused problems as another pad save produced a big rebound and everyone piled in. Carderelli got there but Lehman made the second stop and froze the loose puck.

Into the final minute and Panthers were pressing around the Sheffield net. The puck was whisked out front but evaded everybody except Maltby who was high up the ice. He wasn't going to be caught and buried a crisp shot from right of centre to send the home fans home in a happy mood.