It was an uphill battle for the Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms in Sheffield on Saturday evening, as an opening seven minutes left them playing against the tide.
It was Bair Gendunov who struck first, firing home less than 90 seconds into the first period. As Hough sat a tripping minor soon after, the Steeldogs’ powerplay kicked into gear - with Nathan Ripley firing high over Lavigne at 06:41.
Things didn’t get easier for the Phantoms, as the Steeldogs extended their lead to three less than a minute later, with Gendunov’s second of the game beating Lavigne.
Jonathan Kirk was next into the penalty box, sitting for delay of game after a misdirected clearance landed in the netting. Cam Hough went closest, pinging the post as the powerplay came to an end.
With less than 30 seconds of the period remaining, Ripley struck his second of the game at 19:31 - closing the first third at 4–0.
It was a more optimistic start to the second period, as Corey McEwen opened the Phantoms’ scoring with a blast over Oldale just 24 seconds into the middle frame.
The Steeldogs looked to regain momentum, as a determined Brady Doxey retained possession to try to shovel home - but Lavigne responded with a smart double save, triggering a breakaway in the process.
As the young Joe Matthewman sat for hooking with half the game gone, the Phantoms’ powerplay struggled to find its rhythm. McEwen went closest, pinging the post from the hashmarks - but the Steeldogs’ penalty kill remained dogged.
The penalty box doors opened early in the final frame, as Jonathan Phillips sat for interference after running Lavigne down. With that penalty barely over, Scott Robson was the next visitor to the box at 42:56 - with Mr Hewitt adjudging there to have been a hold in a scrum against the boards.
Following an unsuccessful powerplay, the Steeldogs looked to build momentum again. Less than a minute after returning to 5-on-5 hockey, the hosts struck their fifth - with Gendunov sealing his hat-trick.
The Phantoms were slightly disjointed after a dislodged skate saw Billy Thorpe requiring a push back to the bench. A broken line change was no hurdle for Morgan Clarke-Pizzo, who flew down the wing, cut inside, and finished past Oldale with a smart backhanded effort - bringing the deficit down to three.
A missed board on Cam Hough led to an exchange between the Phantoms’ coaches and the on-ice officials, resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the bench. A subsequent Björkly-Nordström powerplay goal sealed the game at 6–2.
FINAL SCORE: Sheffield Steeldogs 6-2 Peterborough Phantoms
Steeldogs Goals:
01:23 (SS 1-0 PP): #11 Bair Gendunov / #91 Joonas Larinmaa / #96 CJ Garcia (EHG)
06:41 (SS 2-0 PP): #29 Nathan Ripley / #8 Walker Sommer / #90 Jonathan Kirk (PPG)
07:12 (SS 3-0 PP): #11 Bair Gendunov / #29 Nathan Ripley / #96 CJ Garcia (EHG)
19:31 (SS 4-0 PP): #29 Nathan Ripley / #90 Jonathan Kirk / #11 Bair Gendunov (EHG)
45:54 (SS 5-1 PP): #11 Bair Gendunov (HAT) / #8 Walker Sommer / #91 Joonas Larinmaa (EHG)
56:56 (SS 6-2 PP): #72 Ivan Bjorkly Nordstrom / #90 Jonathan Kirk / #8 Walker Sommer (PPG)
​Phantoms Goals:
20:24 (SS 4-1 PP): #71 Corey McEwen / #72 Richard Hartmann / #33 Ralfs Circenis (EHG)
54:18 (SS 5-2 PP): #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo / #71 Corey McEwen / #33 Ralfs Circenis (EHG)
Steeldogs Man of the Match: #29 Nathan Ripley
Phantoms Man of the Match: #8 Louie Kynaston