Steelers will be no pushover for Panthers
No cohesion, no fight, no emotion – but they still had enough in them to hit back with two late goals.
And that's what makes Wednesday Challenge Cup semi-final second-leg against Nottingham Panthers at the National Ice Centre a little more intriguing.
And that element of unpredictability is exactly what makes hockey the game it is, at whatever level.
A season or so ago, I think it was, Coventry hit three goals in the last minute to turn the game around and defeat Edinburgh.
And last season in the NHL, Dallas were leading 2-1 against Edmonton who pulled off their goalie for the extra skater in the last minute only for the Stars to miss a glaring empty net to seal victory. Then with seven seconds to go, the Oilers equalised – and went on to win in overtime.
Anyway, strolling through at 4-0 up, some cynics have even suggested Panthers will have wanted the scoreline to be a little closer to bring the crowds in for the return. Yeah, right.
Quite simply, you'd have thought the players had lost given the scowling faces as they stormed back into the dressing room after the game.
They weren't very happy, to say the least, giving up those two late goals.
But while the 4-2 scoreline may give lowly Steelers some hope, at least it assures we are going to get a competitive game as the sides battle to meet Cardiff in the two-legged final.
That is supposing, of course, that Panthers don't launch into another three-goal first period lead and kill the tie stone dead. And given the fare Sheffield have dished up for most of this season against Panthers, that's not beyond the realms of probability.
But Panthers will write Steelers off at their peril.
In the meantime, Panthers' quest for a first Elite League title goes on this weekend.
They face Hull tonight at the NIC (7pm) and travel to league leaders Coventry tomorrow (6pm)
And defeat in either could bring added importance to their Challenge Cup bid.
mick.holland@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
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