Sheffield Steelers 0-2 Newcastle Vipers

Newcastle missing Andre Payette (suspended).

3708 saw Newcastle inflict the first home defeat of the season on Sheffield Steelers as Ryan MacDonald posted a 36 shot shut-out. The home side gifted Vipers possession behind their own net and Sergiy Rubilivsky fed Jez Lundin who netted from distance (16:11). With the home side's indiscipline Vipers had a 5-on-3 powerplay advantage in the closing minute, Mark Gouette broke away on his own to add a second with just 4 seconds left in the game. Vipers always looked the more likely to score as too often the final pass for the home side was wayward.

Sheffield started brightly, Ryan Finnerty lifting the puck wide at MacDonald's right post. But on 3 minutes Sergiy Rublivsky broke away on his own, went left on keeper Jody Lehman but fanned on the puck and failed to take a shot.

Chances came steadily at both ends but both keepers looked comfortable. David Longstaff opted to pass not shoot when well-placed and Sheffield cleared the danger, then at the other end Jeremy Cornish missed the puck at the goal crease.

Todd Jackson and Rubilivsky broke away and a smart pass across to Colin Shields on the right brought a huge pad save from Lehman. Two minutes later Jackson's long pass released Lundin up the left but again Lehman made the save. Then Longstaff popped at the back post and seemed certain to score, but somehow Lehman spread himself to keep the puck out.

Less than 2 minutes later though and he was beaten. Longstaff barelled his way down the left but Warren Tait nicked the puck off him and Jason Hewitt played across the back of his net, only for Rubilivsky to intercept. His quick pass out found Lundin and his rising shot found the net. From the restart Jonathan Phillips saw a close-range shot turned aside and MacDonald was kept busy until Jeff Legue took a late penalty for tripping.

Only Ben Storey tested Lehman on that powerplay and back at full strength Sheffield threatened to overwhelm their visitors. Finnerty muscled his way across the back of the net and Randy Dagenais forced two stops with Pavel Gomenyuk taking an interference penalty. Dagenais forced the only save of the powerplay but Sheffield maintained the momentum and MacDonald was busy again. However again Vipers came closest to extending their lead when Derek Campbell tried a wrap-around at Lehman's left post.

With Sheffield getting frustrated Ashley Tait took a hooking penalty on his own blue line, but Sheppard and Talbot broke away 2-on-1. Sheppard ignored the pass inside and went round the keeper, only for MacDonald to intercept his attempted pass. Again Sheffield broke away, this time Finnerty ignoring the pass to Dagenais and forcing another fine save. At the other end Lehman blanked Jeff Hutchins as Finnerty took a silly cross-checking penalty to leave Vipers with 31 seconds of 2 man advantage.

Only Shields tested Lehman before Ashley returned but Lehman had 2 more saves to make before Finnerty returned.

Talbot's pass found Finnerty close-in, but MacDonald wasn't to be beaten.

Nearly 5 minutes into the final period Longstaff and Gouette were both denied by Lehman. As the home side swept to the other end Legue swept the puck across to Ashley Tait but he wasn't able to connect and a glorious chance went begging. With Shields sitting a hooking penalty, the same players combined for Legue to fire in from the right but MacDonald gloved the shot. Gouette took another hooking penalty to give Steelers 11 seconds of 5-on-3 and for once the home side's powerplay rained shots on MacDonald, but Dagenais (twice), Sheppard and Legue were all thwarted.

With time running out Storey and Ashley Tait clashed at Vipers net for roughing minors. Neither keeper had a shot to save during the 4-on-4 but they returned as Finnerty took a hooking penalty and with just 96 seconds remaining the visitors called a time-out.

Lehman blanked Longstaff and Sheffield swept down on MacDonald's goal, only for Derek Campbell to break away. He went left on Lehman but failed to get a shot away and Ashley Tait headed for the penalty box for his attempts to separate Campbell from the puck. With just 53 seconds left and killing a 3-on-5 penalty, Sheffield knew they had blown it but coach Matsos went with 2 attackers and again the home side took the play to Vipers' goal. Once again Vipers broke away, this time Gouette providing a calm finish to add Vipers' second of the night.