Fife Flyers shoot down league leaders Sheffield Steelers

A 3-1 win was no more than they deserved after finally delivering the 60-minute game the coaches – and fans – have demanded for months.

They bossed the opening period, skating to a superb 3-0 lead, and more than held their own against a Sheffield side perhaps hampered by its own frustrations and those that surfaced towards the referees as calls went against them.

It was the sort of performance the fans want, and expect; committed, filled with effort, and some flair.

Their only concern is it may have come too late to make the post-season competition.

Flyers remain six points behind Dundee Stars, and seven behind Manchester Storm who they face next weekend, but tonight’s win game gave everyone hope going into the home straight.

Just 1075 fans saw this rollicking game which had some good goals, great plays, and back to back fights which had everyone on their feet.

Fife saw big games across the bench, none more so than netminder Adam Morrison who deserved the MoM and a shut-out – he was only beaten in the closing minutes as Steelers went for broke.

Flyers blew this game opened with two goals in 25 seconds. Danick Gauthier saw his backhand shot blocked by netminder Tomas Duba, but when the puck then landed in front of the net, Chase Schaber was well placed to hit the net at 3:33.

Steelers had no time to regroup before Carlo Finucci latched on to a puck left loose after a swift attack and rang the red light.

You started to sense Sheffield’s frustrations as they could get nothing going against a Fife side which remained tight in defence, scooped up every 50/50 puck, and broke quickly, and it was no surprise to see the score move to 3-0 as Finucci netted his second, this time on the powerplay;lay at 15:14.

Steelers certainly had chances, but they found Morrison impossible to get past as the middle period ended goal-less.

Into the third and Nikolai Lemtyugov was late with a hit which sent Mike Cazzola into the side of the net, which he probably regretted as Gauthier stepped up and knocked the Steelers’ import into the middle of next week in a cracking fight.

They’d barely begun their five-minute penalties, when Anthony Deluca nudged Jonas Emmerdahl and they opted to dance as well, both guys taking double minors for roughing.

Steelers finally opened their account at 53:07 with Lucas Sandstrom netting at the back post.

Flyers almost restored their three goal lead when the rebound from James Livinsgton’s shot from inside the blue line landed neatly for Kyle Just, and his effort was cleared off the line by a defenceman.

Steelers called a time out with 3:04 to play and pulled Duba for a six-on-five last throw of the dice.

It almost backfired when Finucci rolled the puck down the ice, only to see his long-range shot rebound off the base of the post.

Aaron Fox, head coach, who had words for the officials at the end of the first and second periods, had two more in the post-game press conference describing them as “absolutely horrendous.”

Todd Dutiaume, head coach of Flyers, admitted his team needed the win, adding: “It proves we needn’t be in this position. It’s the team fans should be watching on regular basis.”