An enthralling first leg of the EIHL 2010/2012 Play Off Quarter Final saw Nottingham Panthers gain the upper hand with a win by the odd goal in 9.

In front of a packed Braehead crowd, both teams set their intent to go for the jugular early on. Buoyed by the noisy spectators, both teams created half chances in the opening exchanges before Nottingham drew first blood.

Meyers scored the all important first goal of the game, bringing cheers from their travelling support and jeers from the Purple Army. Clan dominated most of the period as indiscipline by the Panthers left them men down on more than one occasion. However, Braehead huffed and puffed but couldn’t break Kowalski, until Chaumont finished from Cook’s lay off to tie the game.

Soon after, a 3 on 3 brawl ensued, spilling over to Clarke and Noel having a joust. Noel was at disadvantage for most of the spar as Clarke pulled on his visor as refs failed to attend the 2. All 6 men picked up penalty minutes, allowing Panthers coach Corey Neilson to score from distance. The period ended with some more argy bargy, setting up a tense 2nd 20.

Within 22 seconds of the restart, Panthers increased their lead in fortuitous circumstances. A high shot from Bellamy should have been comfortable for Perras, but the puck spun off his glove, over his head and slid over the line. 3-1 and Panthers were cruising. The game of hockey is a fickle mistress though and 2 penalties 10 seconds apart swung the game in Braeheads favour.

Clan made no mistake on making the PPs count in the 2nd as with 5v3, Cook pulled it back to 3-2, before Krestanovich had the home fans on their feet with Clan’s second leveller of the night. Momentum was now with the home side as Richardson tried to play mind games with Beauregard as the clock ticked down.

The final period could have swung either way as both teams looked to get a foothold on this quarter final. Just when it seemed each side would cancel each other out, Richardson was put through on Kowalski after Panthers lost the puck on their blue line. The Coach of The Year Nominee made no mistake as Braehead Arena erupted. Chants of Richardson’s Purple Army and You’re Not Singing Anymore echoed around as the Clan lapped up their comeback efforts. But, just as Panthers capitulated in the second, the same fate befell Braehead.

Phillips and Bruce were binned for holding and slashing respectively, giving Nottingham a 5 on 3 then 5 on 4 advantage where Clarke and Ryan contributed a goal a piece.

5-4 Panthers with just over 10 minutes left, and only some heroics from Perras, making up for his earlier gaffe, kept it at that. At the opposite end, Kowalski and his D- Men did well to shut Clan out on the powerplay. Both coaches called time outs but no masterplans were hatched by either team.

In the end, Panthers ran out 5-4 victors, taking a 1 goal lead in to tomorrows crucial second leg. Neilson and Wedderburn picked up the MOTMs.

Upon leaving the Arena, fans trooped past Braehead’s newly acquired Aladdin Cup. Upon entering the arena next season, there may be 2 shiny trophies greeting the supporters.

Nottingham were only just worthy of their win, (at times their bullying of the Clan and some strange reffing decisions would possibly argue otherwise) but if Braehead can play to their potential, they should make it to next weekends Play Off Finals.

Sheffield put one hand firmly on the Elite League Championship with a competent and powerful display against Braehead. After a tight opening period, Steelers took control and delivered a 5-1 victory for their large travelling support.

Before the match, both teams were recognised for having players in the League All Star team and Bruce Richardson picked up Hockey Journalist UK Coach of the Year award, to a rapturous ovation.

Play raged from end to end in the first 5 minutes, with neither Mustukovs or Perras being tested too much. Clan were the first to get a decent chance when Richardson’s shot cannoned back to Bruce, whose follow up went wide. Tait had an effort that went in to the Clan’s side netting before Mustukovs prevented Cook from opening the scoring.

Perras became the busier of the 2 minders as he stopped Legue on a 1 on 1 and then stopped Thomas and 2 efforts from Hewitt to keep Braehead in it. Munn then served 2 penalties in quick succession, giving the ref absolute pelters for the second. It would soon become a game full of bewildering ref’s decisions that incensed both teams.

Cook then had a great chance to put Clan ahead but hit the side net from Chaumont’s cut back. Much like the previous meeting at Braehead, the game showcased a lot of niggle. Kyle Bruce spent the first of a few penalty minutes in the bin for roughing, after a tussle with Simon. Simon was sat atop Bruce and wouldn’t let him up, getting the expected response that Clan’s EIHL Entertainer of the Year nominee would give.

When he returned to the ice, he almost instantly gave Clan the lead, but Mustukovs again stood firm. Perras then made a great one handed save from Globke, before Steelers took the lead. Phillips prodded home from close range after good net work from Globke at 19:08

The second period descended in to a farce for Clan as Steelers spent much of the 20 on the powerplay. The numerical advantages were too strong for Braehead as Legue, Talbot, Clark and Tait put Sheffield 5-0 up. However the turning point of the game were Darnells penalty calls.

Firstly, Jon Landry decked Ben Simon after Steelers number 8 had been slashing at him. He pounced like a tiger, almost giving him a Lou Thesz Press ( one for the wrestling fans), resulting in a bit of a rammy in the Clan goalmouth. The antagonising Munn then got involved but was soon contained. Both Landry and Simon were given penalties.However, Steelers already had Phillips in the box for hooking, but were allowed to still have 4 v4 on the ice.

Munn then took out Richardson’s legs from under him on a break, which Kyle Bruce didn’t take too kindly to. An epic brawl erupted at the boards between the 2, with both men landing some heavy blows before Munn hit the deck first. As they skated away, Bruce threw up his arms in celebration at getting 5 for fighting plus 2 for charging. Richardson also got box time and Munn was called for roughing. Again, Steelers were allowed their full compliment of players on the ice as Clan were down to 3, conceding twice as a result.

If Richardson’s men want to play with the big boys next season, then they need to work on their discipline. Too many times this year, games have been thrown away for silly penalties and players guilty of losing the head. As entertaining as it is to see the fisticuffs, and as good as Sheffield were at instigating indiscipline, keeping the head could be the difference between 5th and 1st next year.

Both Richardson and Bruce had words with the ref as they left the ice, with Munn again winding up Bruce at the close of the period. The 3rd began with Sheffield content to sit back and absorb pressure, while attacking on the break.Clan had more urgency in the 3rd, but found it hard to break down the Steelers backline. Bruce and Noel both had half chances stopped, while Hewitt forced a blind save from Perras.

Mustukovs then plucked a rifled shot from Krestanovich out of the air before Noel hit the post. Bolibruck then received a penalty for holding, which Clan finally took advantage of. Chaumont pulled 1 back from Cook’s set up at 51:15, but Steelers held out til the end.

Legue and Krestanovich picked up the Man of the Match awards in what was a fast paced, entertaining game. The performance of Darnell in the stripes played a major part in the outcome, but Sheffield deserved their win. Unless Braehead can stop their momentum, Steelers will be league champions come Sunday evening.

Clan’s season isn’t over just yet though, as the playoffs begin next week. Their first match is against Challenge Cup winners Nottingham. Discipline will be key in progressing.

Final score at Braehead Arena, Steelers 5-1 Clan.

Around The League: 19/03/2011

Nottingham Panthers 2 – Belfast Giants 6

Giants keep up the pressure on Sheffield going in to the final game of the season with revenge for their Challenge Cup loss to the Panthers. Goals from Peacock, Jacobsen and Hemingway in the 3rd finished the game as a contest and leave Belfast hoping for a Braehead win tonight if they are to win the League.

Newcastle Vipers 3 – Dundee Stars 4

Stars win out with the odd goal in 7, 3 of their 4 coming on the PP. Newcastle came form 3-1 down to 3-3 but couldn’t salvage the win after Maclean’s second of the game for Dundee.

Hull Stingrays 8 – Edinburgh Capitals 1

Caps recorded their 29th straight loss of the season, despite going a goal ahead in this match. Stingrays bounced back form their midweek defeat at Braehead by putting 8 past van Poucke.

Cardiff Devils 7 – Coventry Blaze 4

Devils threw away a 3 goal lead before blitzing the Blaze with goals on the powerplay in the 3rd. They again went 3 goals to the good after Blaze’s fightback, with Gerad Adams putting the game to bed on 53:02.

Braehead stretched their unbeaten run to 5 games with a thumping 7-1 win over Edinburgh. Had it not been for Jens van Poucke (wearing Reid 33) in the Caps goal, a repeat of February’s 15-0 embarrassment or last nights 16-0 mauling at Nottingham would have been likely.

In a game that resembled a drill practice more than a league match, Clan rested EIHL Player of the Week JF Perras and Dominic Noel for the visit of their Scottish rivals, the kind of luxury Edinburgh could only dream of.

Van Poucke’s goal took a battering from the off and made some stunning reflex saves from Cook, Krestanovich and Chaumont, who seemed to have an ongoing battle with the Caps’ keeper for the duration.

Some lapses at the back almost caught out Clan in the early exchanges but Michael Will stood firm. At 11:19, Tim Wedderburn scored the first of the night and his first of the season after good net work by Bruce and Richardson.

Clan looked to build on the 1 goal advantage but van Poucke made a double save from Chaumont and kept out Cook after the speedy number 18, sprinted through. A fizzer from Cook was also well stopped by the badly exposed minder.

To the Capitals’ credit, they plugged away but most attempts on Will were well blocked by Bostock and Wedderburn. With just over a minute left in the first, Wathier succeeded where the front line couldn’t, smacking a shot through Reid from the point. 2-0 at the end of the first and It could have been so much more.

The second period followed the same pattern, Clan teasing and toying with their opponents. Richardson thought he’d extended the lead to 3 but had his close range goal disallowed. McKenzie then had a gilt edged chance to pull 1 back but Will’s pad stop roused a chant in his honour.

Landry then had 2 shots on Will, before Chalmers brought yet another reflex stop from the Caps star man. A quick break carved open the Clan defence, but Hutchins couldn’t connect at the back pipe from Cingel’s delivery.

Haywood then made it 3-0 from close in just before the halfway point. Cingel and Bowie tried in vain to pull 1 back but couldn’t beat Will. The subdued Krestanovich then brought out a tremendous split legged stop from Reid, his best of the night. It was to be the last reprieve for Edinburgh as Campbell made it 4-0 from Cook’s rebound. At the buzzer, Clan had outshot Caps 40-15.

Cook added a 5th after great individual play on the right and it seemed like Clan would go on to get double figures. The Capitals D started to pack itself tighter, but couldn’t stop Campbell and Cook getting their 2nd of the night, making it a magnificent 7. Edinburgh pulled 1 back with 44 seconds remaining, Hutchins netting through a crowd of bodies, denying Will the shutout.

Van Poucke rightfully earned the MOTM while Cook picked up the gong for Clan. Edinburgh skated off without acknowledging the half dozen or so fans who had travelled through, which seemed harsh on their support, as the game ended Edinburgh Capitals 1 Braehead Clan 7.

Blaze looked to bounce back from defeat at Nottingham against an on form Clan, looking for another 4 point weekend. The gruelling EHIL fixture schedule did not take effect on either team as both teams started the game at pace.

Selmzer was first to test Perras, who set the tone for the game with the first of many game saving stops. Russ Cowley then went close before Weaver and Robinson found the bin in quick succession. Much like last night’s Braehead game, the 5 on 3 power play didn’t bring the desired goal, despite Cook hitting the bar when it would have been easier to net. Matty Haywood also went close.

A penalty for high sticking was called on Lee shortly before the game’s first goal. Cook worked the puck on the left and fed Landry, whose laser blasted past Brett Jaeger. First blood to the Clan. A flurry of action resulted in both Walker and Richardson earning some box time. Perras then had to look sharp to deny Weaver twice in the lead up to Blaze’s equaliser.

Blaze worked the PP well as Fulghum struck a distance shot through a ruck of players. Owen looked to have got the final touch, but the goal was credited to Fulghum at 13:34. Cook earned himself a penalty as the period ran it’s course.

If Perras was the Clan hero in the first, Jaeger took the spoils in the second. Great stops from Krestanovich, Chaumont and Landry kept the score down, while JFP kept out Crowley and Selmser.Clan soon regained the lead on 26:59 when Adam walker’s shot rebounded to Saturday night’s Man of the Match, Matthew Wathier. The defenceman slotted home to silence the home crowd.

Farmer tried to hit back instantly but was shut out by Perras once more before Fulghum almost doubled his tally with a shot that smacked the bar. More penalties led to more chances with Campbell, Landry and Soderstrom looking to get on the scoresheet. However the next name to be added was that of Bruce Richardson.

Good net work by Richardson and Kyle Bruce found the Coach go round the back unchallenged to slot under the despairing Jaeger. 3-1 Clan at the end of the second, despite being outshot by the hosts.

Coventry needed to come out of the blocks to get anything from the game, but could not break down a resolute Clan defence.Nell, Cowley, Carlson and Lee had the best of the chances of the period but could not find a way through. Another Clan powerplay gave Cook and Landry some shots on Jaeger, before Carlson went 1 on 1 with Perras to no avail. Cook then smacked a shot off Jaeger’s helmet with around 5 minutes left.

The complexion of the game briefly changed with 90 seconds remaining. Cruickshank netted again through a ruck of players after some great blocking form Bostock and Wedderburn.
Jon Landry then incurred a delay of game penalty, leaving Clan with a powerplay kill for the remainder of the match. Blaze called a time out, pulling Jaeger for the 2 man advantage.

The Clan defence thwarted all attempts and as the pressure mounted, Richardson made a ground block, got up, swivelled and shot in one fluid movement, finding the empty net in the process. 4-2 Clan with 2 seconds remaining. The Braehead fans that travelled to Coventry stood proud at the end as Weaver and Wedderburn received their MOTM awards.

Coventry fall a further 2 points behind Braehead in the race for 5th place in a game won by a team very much on form. Final Score at the Coventry SkyDome, Clan 4- Blaze 2.