Berkshire Bees 5 Solway Sharks 3
Solway Sharks travelled south on Saturday evening to take on the Berkshire Bees for the first time this season, facing a narrow 5-3 victory after the hosts clenched an empty netter in the final moments of the game.
The Sharks, sponsored by Dynamic Property Services, lined up with the addition of Kyle Carruth and Mason Alderson from the previous weekend, whilst Kieran Hair, Bailey Thomson and Owen Rae remained on the injury list. Solway opted for Jordan Marr between the pipes once again, backed up by Logan Reid.
Despite the long road trip, the Sharks made their presence known early in Slough and immediately fired shots on Wright, forcing Balaz to give up a hooking penalty at 1.34. Sharks skipper Stenton made the breakthrough just a second after the powerplay opportunity to give Solway a 1-0 lead after just 3.35. However, the Sharks goal scorer found himself in the box for tripping soon after, allowing Balaz to return the favour for the Bees at 6.11 to equalise. Both sides continued to battle for possession throughout but the scores remained tied 1-1 at the end of the first period.
The Bees returned for the second period eager to claim the lead for the first time in the game, causing a miscommunication between the Sharks bench; Carruth sat a bench minor penalty for Solway at 22.13 after having too many players on the ice. Berkshire’s Balaz claimed his second of the evening, flicking the puck backhand into the net on the back door after Marr spilled the initial rebound.
Another penalty for the Sharks at 24.54 on Kerr for hooking ended in the same result for the hosts. Another clinical play on the advantage from Balaz, assisted by Antonov, who fired over Marr’s glove at 25.30 extended the lead to two goals for the Bees.
Berkshire landed themselves a player short at 26.48 as Rosbottom was called for tripping, however, the Sharks failed to reduce the deficit.
Solway continued to apply pressure on the Bees for the second half of the middle frame, which eventually paid off at 34.48. Sharks captain Stenton claimed his second marker of the evening after firing from the left wing over Wright’s shoulder, assisted by Canadian import Arseneau and Dunbar. The visitors swarmed the Bees zone in the final minutes of the period, but a strong defensive shift from Berkshire prevented Solway equalising.
The Sharks found themselves on the back-foot at the beginning of the third period and shortly after puck drop Young sat two minutes for tripping, however, a strong performance on the blue line denied another power-play opportunity for the Bees. Solway pushed for a more attacking presence, which Berkshire later capitalised on at 46.17 as Stead cleaned up the rebound following Erskine’s initial shot, posting the score 4-2 in favour to the hosts.
Solway created multiple chances but failed to find a way past Wright who was putting in all the stops for the Bees in the crease. However, on his return back into the squad, Alderson fired wide of Wright’s catcher from point at 54.57, assisted by Stenton and Gardiner to reduce the deficit back to a one-goal game inside the final five minutes.
The Sharks opted to call a time-out at 58.40, which saw Marr remain on the bench in favour of an extra attacker as Solway looked to level the score. Despite multiple blocks by Arseneau on the blue line, Gabaj sealed the victory for the Bees at 59.47 with an empty-net goal. Tensions spilled simultaneously, which resulted in four-on-four play for the remaining seconds of the game as both Anderson and Morris were sent to the penalty box.
MVPs were awarded to Stenton following his prolific offensive performance for the Sharks and Balaz claimed the title for the Berkshire Bees after securing a hat-trick for his side.
Solway Sharks 1 Sheffield Steeldogs 6
The Sharks returned to home ice on Sunday evening following three straight road games but failed to claim a win over the visitors as they took a 1-6 victory in the Shark Tank.
The Steeldogs claimed early possession in the opening period, however the Sharks fought back applying their own offensive pressure on Norton.
Steeldogs made the first breakthrough at 6.46 after Hallförs overturned the puck and fired top corner past Marr from the left wing, giving Sheffield the lead.
The Sharks looked to quickly answer back, utilising the firepower of the first line through Gardiner but Norton made the stops to retain the edge for the visitors. The first penalty of the game was handed to Sheffield’s Ripley for hooking, but the hosts failed to punish the Steeldogs on the man advantage. Solway’s leading goal-scorer Gardiner then returned the favour for the visitors after he was called for interference at 19.45.
Despite starting the second period short-handed, the Sharks prevented the Steeldogs doubling their lead early in the middle frame after a strong shift from Stenton. Solway’s biggest chance of the period came from Anderson after he claimed a breakaway, but Norton made the stop against the near post to deny an equaliser.
Sheffield put their advantage at risk at 31.04 as Turner sat for cross-checking, however, the Sharks failed to utilise their chance and failed to find a way past Norton. The Steeldogs resumed the offensive pressure once the penalty expired and later doubled their lead through assistant captain, Doxey who fired wide of Marr from point assisted by Brammer at 36.23. The Sharks power-play unit was in action once again at 38.03 after remblay was called for tripping late in the middle frame.
The Steeldogs saw off the remainder of Tremblay’s infraction and he quickly assisted Sheffield to their third goal after Clarke-Pizzo slotted the puck past the line following the feed from Hallförs on the left wing. The visitors found themselves a player short once again at 43.59 as Barry was handed a tripping penalty. History repeated itself for the Sharks as they failed to punish Sheffield during their power-play.
Sheffield maintained their attacking force in the Solway zone, forcing Anderson to give away a hooking call at 50.43 which the Sharks killed off successfully thanks to multiple saves from Marr. The visitors added another marker to the scoreline at 55.59 as Brammer tucked away the finish for Sheffield after the initial breakout by Shudra. Frustration hit the Sharks as they fell four behind, seeing Beattie sit two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct simultaneously.
Just 39 seconds later, Shudra claimed a goal of his own, assisted by imports Tremblay and Sommer, pushing the Steeldogs five goals clear after 56.38 of play.
Sheffield sent a final shot past Marr at 59.15 via Ripley with a one-timer after the feed by Philips, however, Solway claimed a consolation goal with just six seconds remaining thanks to a strike by Young from a tight angle on the left wing, assisted by Carruth, concluding the game with a 1-6 victory to the Sheffield Steeldogs.
MVPs were awarded to Solway’s Anderson after applying consistent pressure on the Steeldogs and Sheffield’s Norton claimed the title for the visitors following a superb performance between the pipes.
The Sharks take on Peterborough Phantoms at the Ice Bowl on Saturday evening. Face off is 7pm and tickets from https.//sharksihc.com/tickets/, or in person at the Ice Bowl.